1
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Suarez GO, Kumar DS, Brunner H, Emel J, Teel J, Knauss A, Botero V, Broyles CN, Stahl A, Bidaye SS, Tomchik SM. Neurofibromin deficiency alters the patterning and prioritization of motor behaviors in a state-dependent manner. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.08.607070. [PMID: 39149363 PMCID: PMC11326213 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.08.607070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Genetic disorders such as neurofibromatosis type 1 increase vulnerability to cognitive and behavioral disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Neurofibromatosis type 1 results from loss-of-function mutations in the neurofibromin gene and subsequent reduction in the neurofibromin protein (Nf1). While the mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated, loss of Nf1 may alter neuronal circuit activity leading to changes in behavior and susceptibility to cognitive and behavioral comorbidities. Here we show that mutations decreasing Nf1 expression alter motor behaviors, impacting the patterning, prioritization, and behavioral state dependence in a Drosophila model of neurofibromatosis type 1. Loss of Nf1 increases spontaneous grooming in a nonlinear spatial and temporal pattern, differentially increasing grooming of certain body parts, including the abdomen, head, and wings. This increase in grooming could be overridden by hunger in food-deprived foraging animals, demonstrating that the Nf1 effect is plastic and internal state-dependent. Stimulus-evoked grooming patterns were altered as well, with nf1 mutants exhibiting reductions in wing grooming when coated with dust, suggesting that hierarchical recruitment of grooming command circuits was altered. Yet loss of Nf1 in sensory neurons and/or grooming command neurons did not alter grooming frequency, suggesting that Nf1 affects grooming via higher-order circuit alterations. Changes in grooming coincided with alterations in walking. Flies lacking Nf1 walked with increased forward velocity on a spherical treadmill, yet there was no detectable change in leg kinematics or gait. Thus, loss of Nf1 alters motor function without affecting overall motor coordination, in contrast to other genetic disorders that impair coordination. Overall, these results demonstrate that loss of Nf1 alters the patterning and prioritization of repetitive behaviors, in a state-dependent manner, without affecting motor coordination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genesis Omana Suarez
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- H.L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Divya S. Kumar
- Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Hannah Brunner
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jalen Emel
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jensen Teel
- Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Anneke Knauss
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Valentina Botero
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Connor N. Broyles
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Aaron Stahl
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Salil S. Bidaye
- Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Seth M. Tomchik
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- H.L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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2
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Patil YP, Gawari SK, Barvkar VT, Joshi RS. Tyramine-Mediated Hyperactivity Modulates the Dietary Habits in Helicoverpa armigera. J Chem Ecol 2024:10.1007/s10886-024-01515-9. [PMID: 38888642 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-024-01515-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Helicoverpa armigera exhibits extensive variability in feeding habits and food selection. Neuronal regulation of H. armigera feeding behavior is primarily influenced by biogenic amines such as Tyramine (TA) and Octopamine (OA). The molecular responses of H. armigera to dietary challenges in the presence of TA or OA have yet to be studied. This investigation dissects the impact of OA and TA on H. armigera feeding choices and behaviors under non-host nutritional stress. It has been observed that feeding behavior remains unaltered during the exogenous administration of OA and TA through an artificial diet (AD). Ingestion of higher OA or TA concentrations leads to increased mortality. OA and TA treatment in combination with host and non-host diets results in the induction of feeding and higher locomotion toward food, particularly in the case of TA treatment. Increased expression of markers, prominin-like, and tachykinin-related peptide receptor-like transcripts further assessed increased locomotion activity. Insects subjected to a non-host diet with TA treatment exhibited increased feeding and overexpression of the feeding indicator, the Neuropeptide F receptor, and the feeding regulator, Sulfakinin, compared with other conditions. Expression of sensation and biogenic amine synthesis genesis elevated in insects fed a non-host diet in combination with OA or TA. Metabolomics analysis revealed a decreased concentration of the feeding behavior elicitor, dopamine, in insects fed a non-host diet containing TA. This work highlights the complex interplay between biogenic amine functions during dietary stress and suggests the role of tyramine in feeding promotion under stressed conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogita P Patil
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, 411 008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Shyam K Gawari
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, 411 008, India
| | - Vitthal T Barvkar
- Department of Botany, SavitribaiPhule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India
| | - Rakesh S Joshi
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, 411 008, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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3
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Kato H, Nakagawa H, Ishizaki C, Tomita J, Kume K. Preference of position in the proximity of various sugars revealed by location analysis of Drosophila melanogaster. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11285. [PMID: 38760389 PMCID: PMC11101431 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61457-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Feeding behaviors are determined by two main factors. One is the internal state, such as hunger or previous experiences; the other is external factors, such as sensory stimulation. During starvation, animals must balance food-seeking behavior with energy conservation. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, serves as a useful model for studying food selectivity and various behaviors related to food intake. However, few studies have directly connected food selectivity with other behaviors, such as locomotor activity and sleep. In this study, we report that flies exhibited a preference for specific positions and spent more time in the proximity of sweet sugars, such as sucrose and sucralose, but not non-sweet and nutritious sugars like xylitol and sorbitol. On the other hand, prolonged exposure to sorbitol increased the staying time of flies in the proximity of sorbitol. Additionally, after starvation, flies immediately exhibited a position preference in the proximity of sorbitol. These findings suggest that flies prefer the proximity of sweet food, and starvation alters their preference for nutritious food, which may be beneficial for their survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruki Kato
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Tanabe 3-1, Mizuho, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8603, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nakagawa
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Tanabe 3-1, Mizuho, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8603, Japan
| | - Chiaki Ishizaki
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Tanabe 3-1, Mizuho, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8603, Japan
| | - Jun Tomita
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Tanabe 3-1, Mizuho, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8603, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Kume
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Tanabe 3-1, Mizuho, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8603, Japan.
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4
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Arican C, Schmitt FJ, Rössler W, Strube-Bloss MF, Nawrot MP. The mushroom body output encodes behavioral decision during sensory-motor transformation. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4217-4224.e4. [PMID: 37657449 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Animals form a behavioral decision by evaluating sensory evidence on the background of past experiences and the momentary motivational state. In insects, we still lack understanding of how and at which stage of the recurrent sensory-motor pathway behavioral decisions are formed. The mushroom body (MB), a central brain structure in insects1 and crustaceans,2,3 integrates sensory input of different modalities4,5,6 with the internal state, the behavioral state, and external sensory context7,8,9,10 through a large number of recurrent, mostly neuromodulatory inputs,11,12 implicating a functional role for MBs in state-dependent sensory-motor transformation.13,14 A number of classical conditioning studies in honeybees15,16 and fruit flies17,18,19 have provided accumulated evidence that at its output, the MB encodes the valence of a sensory stimulus with respect to its behavioral relevance. Recent work has extended this notion of valence encoding to the context of innate behaviors.8,20,21,22 Here, we co-analyzed a defined feeding behavior and simultaneous extracellular single-unit recordings from MB output neurons (MBONs) in the cockroach in response to timed sensory stimulation with odors. We show that clear neuronal responses occurred almost exclusively during behaviorally responded trials. Early MBON responses to the sensory stimulus preceded the feeding behavior and predicted its occurrence or non-occurrence from the single-trial population activity. Our results therefore suggest that at its output, the MB does not merely encode sensory stimulus valence. We hypothesize instead that the MB output represents an integrated signal of internal state, momentary environmental conditions, and experience-dependent memory to encode a behavioral decision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cansu Arican
- Computational Systems Neuroscience, Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Felix Johannes Schmitt
- Computational Systems Neuroscience, Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Rössler
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Fritz Strube-Bloss
- Department of Biological Cybernetics and Theoretical Biology, University of Bielefeld, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Martin Paul Nawrot
- Computational Systems Neuroscience, Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany.
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5
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Ju L, Glastad KM, Sheng L, Gospocic J, Kingwell CJ, Davidson SM, Kocher SD, Bonasio R, Berger SL. Hormonal gatekeeping via the blood-brain barrier governs caste-specific behavior in ants. Cell 2023; 186:4289-4309.e23. [PMID: 37683635 PMCID: PMC10807403 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Here, we reveal an unanticipated role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in regulating complex social behavior in ants. Using scRNA-seq, we find localization in the BBB of a key hormone-degrading enzyme called juvenile hormone esterase (Jhe), and we show that this localization governs the level of juvenile hormone (JH3) entering the brain. Manipulation of the Jhe level reprograms the brain transcriptome between ant castes. Although ant Jhe is retained and functions intracellularly within the BBB, we show that Drosophila Jhe is naturally extracellular. Heterologous expression of ant Jhe into the Drosophila BBB alters behavior in fly to mimic what is seen in ants. Most strikingly, manipulation of Jhe levels in ants reprograms complex behavior between worker castes. Our study thus uncovers a remarkable, potentially conserved role of the BBB serving as a molecular gatekeeper for a neurohormonal pathway that regulates social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyang Ju
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Karl M Glastad
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Lihong Sheng
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Janko Gospocic
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Urology and Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Callum J Kingwell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Shawn M Davidson
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Sarah D Kocher
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Lewis-Sigler Institute for Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Roberto Bonasio
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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6
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Majcin Dorcikova M, Duret LC, Pottié E, Nagoshi E. Circadian clock disruption promotes the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in male Drosophila. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5908. [PMID: 37737209 PMCID: PMC10516932 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41540-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions are frequent comorbidities of Parkinson's disease (PD), a disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra. However, the causal role of circadian clocks in the degenerative process remains uncertain. We demonstrated here that circadian clocks regulate the rhythmicity and magnitude of the vulnerability of DA neurons to oxidative stress in male Drosophila. Circadian pacemaker neurons are presynaptic to a subset of DA neurons and rhythmically modulate their susceptibility to degeneration. The arrhythmic period (per) gene null mutation exacerbates the age-dependent loss of DA neurons and, in combination with brief oxidative stress, causes premature animal death. These findings suggest that circadian clock disruption promotes dopaminergic neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaëla Majcin Dorcikova
- Department of Genetics and Evolution and Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva (iGE3), University of Geneva, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lou C Duret
- Department of Genetics and Evolution and Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva (iGE3), University of Geneva, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emma Pottié
- Department of Genetics and Evolution and Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva (iGE3), University of Geneva, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emi Nagoshi
- Department of Genetics and Evolution and Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva (iGE3), University of Geneva, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
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7
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Cattabriga G, Giordani G, Gargiulo G, Cavaliere V. Effect of aminergic signaling on the humoral innate immunity response of Drosophila. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1249205. [PMID: 37693001 PMCID: PMC10483126 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1249205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Biogenic amines are crucial signaling molecules that modulate various physiological life functions both in vertebrates and invertebrates. In humans, these neurotransmitters influence the innate and adaptive immunity systems. In this work, we analyzed whether the aminergic neurotransmission of dopamine, serotonin, and octopamine could have an impact on the humoral innate immune response of Drosophila melanogaster. This is a powerful model system widely used to uncover the insect innate immunity mechanisms which are also conserved in mammals. We found that the neurotransmission of all these amines positively modulates the Toll-responsive antimicrobial peptide (AMP) drosomycin (drs) gene in adult flies infected with the Micrococcus luteus bacterium. Indeed, we showed that either blocking the neurotransmission in their specific aminergic neurons by expressing shibirets (Shits) or silencing the vesicular monoamine transporter gene (dVMAT) by RNAi caused a significantly reduced expression of the Toll-responsive drs gene. However, upon M. luteus infection, the block of aminergic transmission did not alter the expression of AMP attacin genes responding to the immune deficiency (Imd) and Toll pathways. Overall, our results not only reveal a neuroimmune function for biogenic amines in humoral immunity but also further highlight the complexity of the network controlling AMP gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Cattabriga
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Giordani
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gargiulo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valeria Cavaliere
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology (BAT Center), University of Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
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8
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Weaver KJ, Raju S, Rucker RA, Chakraborty T, Holt RA, Pletcher SD. Behavioral dissection of hunger states in Drosophila. eLife 2023; 12:RP84537. [PMID: 37326496 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hunger is a motivational drive that promotes feeding, and it can be generated by the physiological need to consume nutrients as well as the hedonic properties of food. Brain circuits and mechanisms that regulate feeding have been described, but which of these contribute to the generation of motive forces that drive feeding is unclear. Here, we describe our first efforts at behaviorally and neuronally distinguishing hedonic from homeostatic hunger states in Drosophila melanogaster and propose that this system can be used as a model to dissect the molecular mechanisms that underlie feeding motivation. We visually identify and quantify behaviors exhibited by hungry flies and find that increased feeding duration is a behavioral signature of hedonic feeding motivation. Using a genetically encoded marker of neuronal activity, we find that the mushroom body (MB) lobes are activated by hedonic food environments, and we use optogenetic inhibition to implicate a dopaminergic neuron cluster (protocerebral anterior medial [PAM]) to α'/β' MB circuit in hedonic feeding motivation. The identification of discrete hunger states in flies and the development of behavioral assays to measure them offers a framework to begin dissecting the molecular and circuit mechanisms that generate motivational states in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina J Weaver
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Geriatrics Center, Biomedical Sciences and Research Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Sonakshi Raju
- College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Biomedical Sciences and Research Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Rachel A Rucker
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Tuhin Chakraborty
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Geriatrics Center, Biomedical Sciences and Research Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Robert A Holt
- College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Biomedical Sciences and Research Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Scott D Pletcher
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Geriatrics Center, Biomedical Sciences and Research Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
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9
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Pardo-Garcia TR, Gu K, Woerner RKR, Dus M. Food memory circuits regulate eating and energy balance. Curr Biol 2023; 33:215-227.e3. [PMID: 36528025 PMCID: PMC9877168 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, learning circuits play an essential role in energy balance by creating associations between sensory cues and the rewarding qualities of food. This process is altered by diet-induced obesity, but the causes and mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we exploited the relative simplicity and wealth of knowledge about the D. melanogaster reinforcement learning network, the mushroom body, in order to study the relationship between the dietary environment, dopamine-induced plasticity, and food associations. We show flies that are fed a high-sugar diet cannot make associations between sensory cues and the rewarding properties of sugar. This deficit was caused by diet exposure, not fat accumulation, and specifically by lower dopamine-induced plasticity onto mushroom body output neurons (MBONs) during learning. Importantly, food memories dynamically tune the output of MBONs during eating, which instead remains fixed in sugar-diet animals. Interestingly, manipulating the activity of MBONs influenced eating and fat mass, depending on the diet. Altogether, this work advances our fundamental understanding of the mechanisms, causes, and consequences of the dietary environment on reinforcement learning and ingestive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaut R Pardo-Garcia
- The Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; The Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Kathleen Gu
- The Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Riley K R Woerner
- The Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Monica Dus
- The Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; The Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; The Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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10
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Marquis M, Wilson RI. Locomotor and olfactory responses in dopamine neurons of the Drosophila superior-lateral brain. Curr Biol 2022; 32:5406-5414.e5. [PMID: 36450284 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The Drosophila brain contains about 50 distinct morphological types of dopamine neurons.1,2,3,4 Physiological studies of Drosophila dopamine neurons have been largely limited to one brain region, the mushroom body,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 where they are implicated in learning.14,15,16,17,18 By comparison, we know little about the physiology of other Drosophila dopamine neurons. Interestingly, a recent whole-brain imaging study found that dopamine neuron activity in several fly brain regions is correlated with locomotion.19 This is notable because many dopamine neurons in the rodent brain are also correlated with locomotion or other movements20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30; however, most rodent studies have focused on learned and rewarded behaviors, and few have investigated dopamine neuron activity during spontaneous (self-timed) movements. In this study, we monitored dopamine neurons in the Drosophila brain during self-timed locomotor movements, focusing on several previously uncharacterized cell types that arborize in the superior-lateral brain, specifically the lateral horn and superior-lateral protocerebrum. We found that activity of all of these dopamine neurons correlated with spontaneous fluctuations in walking speed, with different cell types showing different speed correlations. Some dopamine neurons also responded to odors, but these responses were suppressed by repeated odor encounters. Finally, we found that the same identifiable dopamine neuron can encode different combinations of locomotion and odor in different individuals. If these dopamine neurons promote synaptic plasticity-like the dopamine neurons of the mushroom body-then, their tuning profiles would imply that plasticity depends on a flexible integration of sensory signals, motor signals, and recent experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Marquis
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rachel I Wilson
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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11
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Ryu TH, Subramanian M, Yeom E, Yu K. The prominin-like Gene Expressed in a Subset of Dopaminergic Neurons Regulates Locomotion in Drosophila. Mol Cells 2022; 45:640-648. [PMID: 35993164 PMCID: PMC9448647 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2022.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
CD133, also known as prominin-1, was first identified as a biomarker of mammalian cancer and neural stem cells. Previous studies have shown that the prominin-like (promL) gene, an orthologue of mammalian CD133 in Drosophila, plays a role in glucose and lipid metabolism, body growth, and longevity. Because locomotion is required for food sourcing and ultimately the regulation of metabolism, we examined the function of promL in Drosophila locomotion. Both promL mutants and pan-neuronal promL inhibition flies displayed reduced spontaneous locomotor activity. As dopamine is known to modulate locomotion, we also examined the effects of promL inhibition on the dopamine concentration and mRNA expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and DOPA decarboxylase (Ddc), the enzymes responsible for dopamine biosynthesis, in the heads of flies. Compared with those in control flies, the levels of dopamine and the mRNAs encoding TH and Ddc were lower in promL mutant and pan-neuronal promL inhibition flies. In addition, an immunostaining analysis revealed that, compared with control flies, promL mutant and pan-neuronal promL inhibition flies had lower levels of the TH protein in protocerebral anterior medial (PAM) neurons, a subset of dopaminergic neurons. Inhibition of promL in these PAM neurons reduced the locomotor activity of the flies. Overall, these findings indicate that promL expressed in PAM dopaminergic neurons regulates locomotion by controlling dopamine synthesis in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Hoon Ryu
- Metabolism and Neurophysiology Research Group, Disease Target Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Manivannan Subramanian
- Metabolism and Neurophysiology Research Group, Disease Target Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Eunbyul Yeom
- Metabolism and Neurophysiology Research Group, Disease Target Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea
- School of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
- School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Kweon Yu
- Metabolism and Neurophysiology Research Group, Disease Target Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea
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12
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Nässel DR, Wu SF. Cholecystokinin/sulfakinin peptide signaling: conserved roles at the intersection between feeding, mating and aggression. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:188. [PMID: 35286508 PMCID: PMC8921109 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04214-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Neuropeptides are the most diverse messenger molecules in metazoans and are involved in regulation of daily physiology and a wide array of behaviors. Some neuropeptides and their cognate receptors are structurally and functionally well conserved over evolution in bilaterian animals. Among these are peptides related to gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK). In mammals, CCK is produced by intestinal endocrine cells and brain neurons, and regulates gall bladder contractions, pancreatic enzyme secretion, gut functions, satiety and food intake. Additionally, CCK plays important roles in neuromodulation in several brain circuits that regulate reward, anxiety, aggression and sexual behavior. In invertebrates, CCK-type peptides (sulfakinins, SKs) are, with a few exceptions, produced by brain neurons only. Common among invertebrates is that SKs mediate satiety and regulate food ingestion by a variety of mechanisms. Also regulation of secretion of digestive enzymes has been reported. Studies of the genetically tractable fly Drosophila have advanced our understanding of SK signaling mechanisms in regulation of satiety and feeding, but also in gustatory sensitivity, locomotor activity, aggression and reproductive behavior. A set of eight SK-expressing brain neurons plays important roles in regulation of these competing behaviors. In males, they integrate internal state and external stimuli to diminish sex drive and increase aggression. The same neurons also diminish sugar gustation, induce satiety and reduce feeding. Although several functional roles of CCK/SK signaling appear conserved between Drosophila and mammals, available data suggest that the underlying mechanisms differ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dick R Nässel
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Shun-Fan Wu
- College of Plant Protection/Laboratory of Bio-Interactions and Crop Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
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13
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Rahul, Siddique YH. Drosophila: A Model to Study the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2022; 21:259-277. [PMID: 35040399 DOI: 10.2174/1871527320666210809120621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Human Central Nervous System (CNS) is the complex part of the human body, which regulates multiple cellular and molecular events taking place simultaneously. Parkinsons Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease (AD). The pathological hallmarks of PD are loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantianigra (SN) pars compacta (SNpc) and accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein, in intra-cytoplasmic inclusions called Lewy bodies (LBs). So far, there is no cure for PD, due to the complexities of molecular mechanisms and events taking place during the pathogenesis of PD. Drosophila melanogaster is an appropriate model organism to unravel the pathogenicity not only behind PD but also other NDs. In this context as numerous biological functions are preserved between Drosophila and humans. Apart from sharing 75% of human disease-causing genes homolog in Drosophila, behavioral responses like memory-based tests, negative geotaxis, courtship and mating are also well studied. The genetic, as well as environmental factors, can be studied in Drosophila to understand the geneenvironment interactions behind the disease condition. Through genetic manipulation, mutant flies can be generated harboring human orthologs, which can prove to be an excellent model to understand the effect of the mutant protein on the pathogenicity of NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul
- Drosophila Transgenic Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, Uttar Pradesh,India
| | - Yasir Hasan Siddique
- Drosophila Transgenic Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, Uttar Pradesh,India
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14
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Nauta J, Khaluf Y, Simoens P. Resource ephemerality influences effectiveness of altruistic behavior in collective foraging. SWARM INTELLIGENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11721-021-00205-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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15
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Zolin A, Cohn R, Pang R, Siliciano AF, Fairhall AL, Ruta V. Context-dependent representations of movement in Drosophila dopaminergic reinforcement pathways. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:1555-1566. [PMID: 34697455 PMCID: PMC8556349 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00929-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine plays a central role in motivating and modifying behavior, serving to invigorate current behavioral performance and guide future actions through learning. Here we examine how this single neuromodulator can contribute to such diverse forms of behavioral modulation. By recording from the dopaminergic reinforcement pathways of the Drosophila mushroom body during active odor navigation, we reveal how their ongoing motor-associated activity relates to goal-directed behavior. We found that dopaminergic neurons correlate with different behavioral variables depending on the specific navigational strategy of an animal, such that the activity of these neurons preferentially reflects the actions most relevant to odor pursuit. Furthermore, we show that these motor correlates are translated to ongoing dopamine release, and acutely perturbing dopaminergic signaling alters the strength of odor tracking. Context-dependent representations of movement and reinforcement cues are thus multiplexed within the mushroom body dopaminergic pathways, enabling them to coordinately influence both ongoing and future behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryeh Zolin
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Raphael Cohn
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rich Pang
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Computational Neuroscience Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew F Siliciano
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adrienne L Fairhall
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Computational Neuroscience Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Vanessa Ruta
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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16
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Kilpatrick ZP, Davidson JD, El Hady A. Uncertainty drives deviations in normative foraging decision strategies. J R Soc Interface 2021; 18:20210337. [PMID: 34255987 PMCID: PMC8277480 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nearly all animals forage to acquire energy for survival through efficient search and resource harvesting. Patch exploitation is a canonical foraging behaviour, but there is a need for more tractable and understandable mathematical models describing how foragers deal with uncertainty. To provide such a treatment, we develop a normative theory of patch foraging decisions, proposing mechanisms by which foraging behaviours emerge in the face of uncertainty. Our model foragers statistically and sequentially infer patch resource yields using Bayesian updating based on their resource encounter history. A decision to leave a patch is triggered when the certainty of the patch type or the estimated yield of the patch falls below a threshold. The time scale over which uncertainty in resource availability persists strongly impacts behavioural variables like patch residence times and decision rules determining patch departures. When patch depletion is slow, as in habitat selection, departures are characterized by a reduction of uncertainty, suggesting that the forager resides in a low-yielding patch. Uncertainty leads patch-exploiting foragers to overharvest (underharvest) patches with initially low (high) resource yields in comparison with predictions of the marginal value theorem. These results extend optimal foraging theory and motivate a variety of behavioural experiments investigating patch foraging behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary P Kilpatrick
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jacob D Davidson
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany.,Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Ahmed El Hady
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
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17
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Friedman DA, Tschantz A, Ramstead MJD, Friston K, Constant A. Active Inferants: An Active Inference Framework for Ant Colony Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:647732. [PMID: 34248515 PMCID: PMC8264549 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.647732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we introduce an active inference model of ant colony foraging behavior, and implement the model in a series of in silico experiments. Active inference is a multiscale approach to behavioral modeling that is being applied across settings in theoretical biology and ethology. The ant colony is a classic case system in the function of distributed systems in terms of stigmergic decision-making and information sharing. Here we specify and simulate a Markov decision process (MDP) model for ant colony foraging. We investigate a well-known paradigm from laboratory ant colony behavioral experiments, the alternating T-maze paradigm, to illustrate the ability of the model to recover basic colony phenomena such as trail formation after food location discovery. We conclude by outlining how the active inference ant colony foraging behavioral model can be extended and situated within a nested multiscale framework and systems approaches to biology more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Ari Friedman
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Active Inference Lab, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Alec Tschantz
- Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
- Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Maxwell J. D. Ramstead
- Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Culture, Mind, and Brain Program, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Spatial Web Foundation, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Karl Friston
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Axel Constant
- Theory and Method in Biosciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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18
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Liao S, Amcoff M, Nässel DR. Impact of high-fat diet on lifespan, metabolism, fecundity and behavioral senescence in Drosophila. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 133:103495. [PMID: 33171202 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Excess consumption of high-fat diet (HFD) is likely to result in obesity and increases the predisposition to associated health disorders. Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as an important model to study the effects of HFD on metabolism, gut function, behavior, and ageing. In this study, we investigated the effects of HFD on physiology and behavior of female flies at different time-points over several weeks. We found that HFD decreases lifespan, and also with age leads to accelerated decline of climbing ability in both virgins and mated flies. In virgins HFD also increased sleep fragmentation with age. Furthermore, long-term exposure to HFD results in elevated adipokinetic hormone (AKH) transcript levels and an enlarged crop with increased lipid stores. We detected no long-term effects of HFD on body mass, or levels of triacylglycerides (TAG), glycogen or glucose, although fecundity was diminished. However, one week of HFD resulted in decreased body mass and elevated TAG levels in mated flies. Finally, we investigated the role of AKH in regulating effects of HFD during aging. Both with normal diet (ND) and HFD, Akh mutant flies displayed increased longevity compared to control flies. However, both mutants and controls showed shortened lifespan on HFD compared to ND. In flies exposed to ND, fecundity is decreased in Akh mutants compared to controls after one week, but increased after three weeks. However, HFD leads to a similar decrease in fecundity in both genotypes after both exposure times. Thus, long-term exposure to HFD increases AKH signaling, impairs lifespan and fecundity and augments age-related behavioral senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sifang Liao
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mirjam Amcoff
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dick R Nässel
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
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19
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Mahishi D, Triphan T, Hesse R, Huetteroth W. The Panopticon-Assessing the Effect of Starvation on Prolonged Fly Activity and Place Preference. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:640146. [PMID: 33841109 PMCID: PMC8026880 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.640146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal behaviours are demonstrably governed by sensory stimulation, previous experience and internal states like hunger. With increasing hunger, priorities shift towards foraging and feeding. During foraging, flies are known to employ efficient path integration strategies. However, general long-term activity patterns for both hungry and satiated flies in conditions of foraging remain to be better understood. Similarly, little is known about how permanent contact chemosensory stimulation affects locomotion. To address these questions, we have developed a novel, simplistic fly activity tracking setup—the Panopticon. Using a 3D-printed Petri dish inset, our assay allows recording of walking behaviour, of several flies in parallel, with all arena surfaces covered by a uniform substrate layer. We tested two constellations of providing food: (i) in single patches and (ii) omnipresent within the substrate layer. Fly tracking is done with FIJI, further assessment, analysis and presentation is done with a custom-built MATLAB analysis framework. We find that starvation history leads to a long-lasting reduction in locomotion, as well as a delayed place preference for food patches which seems to be not driven by immediate hunger motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepthi Mahishi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tilman Triphan
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ricarda Hesse
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wolf Huetteroth
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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20
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Ekoka E, Maharaj S, Nardini L, Dahan-Moss Y, Koekemoer LL. 20-Hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling as a promising target for the chemical control of malaria vectors. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:86. [PMID: 33514413 PMCID: PMC7844807 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04558-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
With the rapid development and spread of resistance to insecticides among anopheline malaria vectors, the efficacy of current World Health Organization (WHO)-approved insecticides targeting these vectors is under threat. This has led to the development of novel interventions, including improved and enhanced insecticide formulations with new targets or synergists or with added sterilants and/or antimalarials, among others. To date, several studies in mosquitoes have revealed that the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling pathway regulates both vector abundance and competence, two parameters that influence malaria transmission. Therefore, insecticides which target 20E signaling (e.g. methoxyfenozide and halofenozide) may be an asset for malaria vector control. While such insecticides are already commercially available for lepidopteran and coleopteran pests, they still need to be approved by the WHO for malaria vector control programs. Until recently, chemicals targeting 20E signaling were considered to be insect growth regulators, and their effect was mostly studied against immature mosquito stages. However, in the last few years, promising results have been obtained by applying methoxyfenozide or halofenozide (two compounds that boost 20E signaling) to Anopheles populations at different phases of their life-cycle. In addition, preliminary studies suggest that methoxyfenozide resistance is unstable, causing the insects substantial fitness costs, thereby potentially circumventing one of the biggest challenges faced by current vector control efforts. In this review, we first describe the 20E signaling pathway in mosquitoes and then summarize the mechanisms whereby 20E signaling regulates the physiological processes associated with vector competence and vector abundance. Finally, we discuss the potential of using chemicals targeting 20E signaling to control malaria vectors.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Ekoka
- WITS Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. .,Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Surina Maharaj
- WITS Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Luisa Nardini
- WITS Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Yael Dahan-Moss
- WITS Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lizette L Koekemoer
- WITS Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
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21
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Ichinose T, Kanno M, Wu H, Yamagata N, Sun H, Abe A, Tanimoto H. Mushroom body output differentiates memory processes and distinct memory-guided behaviors. Curr Biol 2021; 31:1294-1302.e4. [PMID: 33476556 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The mushroom body (MB) of Drosophila melanogaster has multiple functions in controlling memory and behavior.1-9 However, circuit mechanisms that generate this functional diversity are largely unclear. Here, we systematically probed the behavioral contribution of each type of MB output neuron (MBON) by blocking during acquisition, retention, or retrieval of reward or punishment memories. We evaluated the contribution using two conditioned responses: memory-guided odor choice and odor source attraction. Quantitative analysis revealed that these conditioned odor responses are controlled by different sets of MBONs. We found that the valence of memory, rather than the transition of memory steps, has a larger impact on the patterns of required MBONs. Moreover, we found that the glutamatergic MBONs forming recurrent circuits commonly contribute to appetitive memory acquisition, suggesting a pivotal role of this circuit motif for reward processing. Our results provide principles how the MB output circuit processes associative memories of different valence and controls distinct memory-guided behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiharu Ichinose
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan; Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan; Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan; Department of Neuropharmacology, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan.
| | - Mai Kanno
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Hongyang Wu
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Yamagata
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Huan Sun
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Ayako Abe
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Hiromu Tanimoto
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
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22
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Dvořáček J, Kodrík D. Drosophila reward system - A summary of current knowledge. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 123:301-319. [PMID: 33421541 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster brain is the most extensively investigated model of a reward system in insects. Drosophila can discriminate between rewarding and punishing environmental stimuli and consequently undergo associative learning. Functional models, especially those modelling mushroom bodies, are constantly being developed using newly discovered information, adding to the complexity of creating a simple model of the reward system. This review aims to clarify whether its reward system also includes a hedonic component. Neurochemical systems that mediate the 'wanting' component of reward in the Drosophila brain are well documented, however, the systems that mediate the pleasure component of reward in mammals, including those involving the endogenous opioid and endocannabinoid systems, are unlikely to be present in insects. The mushroom body components exhibit differential developmental age and different functional processes. We propose a hypothetical hierarchy of the levels of reinforcement processing in response to particular stimuli, and the parallel processes that take place concurrently. The possible presence of activity-silencing and meta-satiety inducing levels in Drosophila should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Dvořáček
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, CAS, and Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Dalibor Kodrík
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, CAS, and Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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23
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Boto T, Stahl A, Zhang X, Louis T, Tomchik SM. Independent Contributions of Discrete Dopaminergic Circuits to Cellular Plasticity, Memory Strength, and Valence in Drosophila. Cell Rep 2020; 27:2014-2021.e2. [PMID: 31091441 PMCID: PMC6585410 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.04.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopaminergic neurons play a key role in encoding associative memories, but little is known about how these circuits modulate memory strength. Here we report that different sets of dopaminergic neurons projecting to the Drosophila mushroom body (MB) differentially regulate valence and memory strength. PPL2 neurons increase odor-evoked calcium re- sponses to a paired odor in the MB and enhance behavioral memory strength when activated during olfactory classical conditioning. When paired with odor alone, they increase MB responses to the paired odor but do not drive behavioral approach or avoidance, suggesting that they increase the salience of the odor without encoding strong valence. This contrasts with the role of dopaminergic PPL1 neurons, which drive behavioral reinforcement but do not alter odor-evoked calcium responses in the MB when stimulated. These data suggest that different sets of dopaminergic neurons modulate olfactory valence and memory strength via independent actions on a memory-encoding brain region. Boto et al. investigated the roles of two sets of dopaminergic neurons that converge on a memory-encoding brain region in flies. While one set, PPL1, drives aversive reinforcement (valence), PPL2 neurons enhance memory strength via modulation of Ca2+ response plasticity in memory-encoding mushroom body neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Boto
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Aaron Stahl
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Xiaofan Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Thierry Louis
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Seth M Tomchik
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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24
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Siju KP, Štih V, Aimon S, Gjorgjieva J, Portugues R, Grunwald Kadow IC. Valence and State-Dependent Population Coding in Dopaminergic Neurons in the Fly Mushroom Body. Curr Biol 2020; 30:2104-2115.e4. [PMID: 32386530 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Neuromodulation permits flexibility of synapses, neural circuits, and ultimately behavior. One neuromodulator, dopamine, has been studied extensively in its role as a reward signal during learning and memory across animal species. Newer evidence suggests that dopaminergic neurons (DANs) can modulate sensory perception acutely, thereby allowing an animal to adapt its behavior and decision making to its internal and behavioral state. In addition, some data indicate that DANs are not homogeneous but rather convey different types of information as a heterogeneous population. We have investigated DAN population activity and how it could encode relevant information about sensory stimuli and state by taking advantage of the confined anatomy of DANs innervating the mushroom body (MB) of the fly Drosophila melanogaster. Using in vivo calcium imaging and a custom 3D image registration method, we found that the activity of the population of MB DANs encodes innate valence information of an odor or taste as well as the physiological state of the animal. Furthermore, DAN population activity is strongly correlated with movement, consistent with a role of dopamine in conveying behavioral state to the MB. Altogether, our data and analysis suggest that DAN population activities encode innate odor and taste valence, movement, and physiological state in a MB-compartment-specific manner. We propose that dopamine shapes innate perception through combinatorial population coding of sensory valence, physiological, and behavioral context.
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Affiliation(s)
- K P Siju
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Vilim Štih
- Sensorimotor Control Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sophie Aimon
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Julijana Gjorgjieva
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany; Computation in Neural Circuits Group, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ruben Portugues
- Sensorimotor Control Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience, Technical University of Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Ilona C Grunwald Kadow
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany; ZIEL-Institute of Food and Health, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany.
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25
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Bernadou A, Hoffacker E, Pable J, Heinze J. Lipid content influences division of labour in a clonal ant. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb219238. [PMID: 32107304 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.219238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The fat body, a major metabolic hub in insects, is involved in many functions, e.g. energy storage, nutrient sensing and immune response. In social insects, fat appears to play an additional role in division of labour between egg layers and workers, which specialize in non-reproductive tasks inside and outside their nest. For instance, reproductives are more resistant to starvation, and changes in fat content have been associated with the transition from inside to outside work or reproductive activities. However, most studies have been correlative and we still need to unravel the causal interrelationships between fat content and division of both reproductive and non-reproductive labour. Clonal ants, e.g. Platythyrea punctata, are ideal models for studying task partitioning without confounding variation in genotype and morphology. In this study, we examined the range of variation and flexibility of fat content throughout the lifespan of workers, the threshold of corpulence associated with foraging or reproduction and whether low fat content is a cause rather than a consequence of the transition to foraging. We found that lipid stores change with division of labour from corpulent to lean and, in reverted nurses, back to corpulent. In addition, our data show the presence of fat content thresholds that trigger the onset of foraging or egg-laying behaviour. Our study supports the view that mechanisms that regulate reproduction and foraging in solitary insects, in particular the nutritional status of individuals, have been co-opted to regulate division of labour in colonies of social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Bernadou
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Hoffacker
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Julia Pable
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Heinze
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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26
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Friedman DA, York RA, Hilliard AT, Gordon DM. Gene expression variation in the brains of harvester ant foragers is associated with collective behavior. Commun Biol 2020; 3:100. [PMID: 32139795 PMCID: PMC7057964 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-0813-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural selection on collective behavior acts on variation among colonies in behavior that is associated with reproductive success. In the red harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus), variation among colonies in the collective regulation of foraging in response to humidity is associated with colony reproductive success. We used RNA-seq to examine gene expression in the brains of foragers in a natural setting. We find that colonies differ in the expression of neurophysiologically-relevant genes in forager brains, and a fraction of these gene expression differences are associated with two colony traits: sensitivity of foraging activity to humidity, and forager brain dopamine to serotonin ratio. Loci that were correlated with colony behavioral differences were enriched in neurotransmitter receptor signaling & metabolic functions, tended to be more central to coexpression networks, and are evolving under higher protein-coding sequence constraint. Natural selection may shape colony foraging behavior through variation in gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Deborah M Gordon
- Stanford University, Department of Biology, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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27
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Boto T, Stahl A, Tomchik SM. Cellular and circuit mechanisms of olfactory associative learning in Drosophila. J Neurogenet 2020; 34:36-46. [PMID: 32043414 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2020.1715971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed significant progress in understanding how memories are encoded, from the molecular to the cellular and the circuit/systems levels. With a good compromise between brain complexity and behavioral sophistication, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is one of the preeminent animal models of learning and memory. Here we review how memories are encoded in Drosophila, with a focus on short-term memory and an eye toward future directions. Forward genetic screens have revealed a large number of genes and transcripts necessary for learning and memory, some acting cell-autonomously. Further, the relative numerical simplicity of the fly brain has enabled the reverse engineering of learning circuits with remarkable precision, in some cases ascribing behavioral phenotypes to single neurons. Functional imaging and physiological studies have localized and parsed the plasticity that occurs during learning at some of the major loci. Connectomics projects are significantly expanding anatomical knowledge of the nervous system, filling out the roadmap for ongoing functional/physiological and behavioral studies, which are being accelerated by simultaneous tool development. These developments have provided unprecedented insight into the fundamental neural principles of learning, and lay the groundwork for deep understanding in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Boto
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Aaron Stahl
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Seth M Tomchik
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
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28
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Robles-Murguia M, Rao D, Finkelstein D, Xu B, Fan Y, Demontis F. Muscle-derived Dpp regulates feeding initiation via endocrine modulation of brain dopamine biosynthesis. Genes Dev 2019; 34:37-52. [PMID: 31831628 PMCID: PMC6938663 DOI: 10.1101/gad.329110.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In this study, Robles-Murguia et al. set out to examine whether muscle-secreted hormones regulate feeding. Using Drosophila as a model system combined with several in vivo and in vitro experiments, the authors identify Decapentaplegic (Dpp) as a myokine that can signal from the muscle to the brain to control feeding by altering dopamine synthesis through transcriptional regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). In animals, the brain regulates feeding behavior in response to local energy demands of peripheral tissues, which secrete orexigenic and anorexigenic hormones. Although skeletal muscle is a key peripheral tissue, it remains unknown whether muscle-secreted hormones regulate feeding. In Drosophila, we found that decapentaplegic (dpp), the homolog of human bone morphogenetic proteins BMP2 and BMP4, is a muscle-secreted factor (a myokine) that is induced by nutrient sensing and that circulates and signals to the brain. Muscle-restricted dpp RNAi promotes foraging and feeding initiation, whereas dpp overexpression reduces it. This regulation of feeding by muscle-derived Dpp stems from modulation of brain tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression and dopamine biosynthesis. Consistently, Dpp receptor signaling in dopaminergic neurons regulates TH expression and feeding initiation via the downstream transcriptional repressor Schnurri. Moreover, pharmacologic modulation of TH activity rescues the changes in feeding initiation due to modulation of dpp expression in muscle. These findings indicate that muscle-to-brain endocrine signaling mediated by the myokine Dpp regulates feeding behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maricela Robles-Murguia
- Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Deepti Rao
- Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - David Finkelstein
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Beisi Xu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Yiping Fan
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Fabio Demontis
- Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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29
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Beckwith EJ, French AS. Sleep in Drosophila and Its Context. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1167. [PMID: 31572216 PMCID: PMC6749028 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A prominent idea emerging from the study of sleep is that this key behavioural state is regulated in a complex fashion by ecologically and physiologically relevant environmental factors. This concept implies that sleep, as a behaviour, is plastic and can be regulated by external agents and changes in internal state. Drosophila melanogaster constitutes a resourceful model system to study behaviour. In the year 2000, the utility of the fly to study sleep was realised, and has since extensively contributed to this exciting field. At the centre of this review, we will discuss studies showing that temperature, food availability/quality, and interactions with conspecifics can regulate sleep. Indeed the relationship can be reciprocal and sleep perturbation can also affect feeding and social interaction. In particular, different environmental temperatures as well as gradual changes in temperature regulate when, and how much flies sleep. Moreover, the satiation/starvation status of an individual dictates the balance between sleep and foraging. Nutritional composition of diet also has a direct impact on sleep amount and its fragmentation. Likewise, aggression between males, courtship, sexual arousal, mating, and interactions within large groups of animals has an acute and long-lasting effect on sleep amount and quality. Importantly, the genes and neuronal circuits that relay information about the external environment and internal state to sleep centres are starting to be elucidated in the fly and are the focus of this review. In conclusion, sleep, as with most behaviours, needs the full commitment of the individual, preventing participation in other vital activities. A vast array of behaviours that are modulated by external and internal factors compete with the need to sleep and thus have a significant role in regulating it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban J Beckwith
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alice S French
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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30
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Musso PY, Junca P, Jelen M, Feldman-Kiss D, Zhang H, Chan RC, Gordon MD. Closed-loop optogenetic activation of peripheral or central neurons modulates feeding in freely moving Drosophila. eLife 2019; 8:45636. [PMID: 31322499 PMCID: PMC6668987 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Manipulating feeding circuits in freely moving animals is challenging, in part because the timing of sensory inputs is affected by the animal's behavior. To address this challenge in Drosophila, we developed the Sip-Triggered Optogenetic Behavior Enclosure ('STROBE'). The STROBE is a closed-looped system for real-time optogenetic activation of feeding flies, designed to evoke neural excitation coincident with food contact. We previously demonstrated the STROBE's utility in probing the valence of fly sensory neurons (Jaeger et al., 2018). Here we provide a thorough characterization of the STROBE system, demonstrate that STROBE-driven behavior is modified by hunger and the presence of taste ligands, and find that mushroom body dopaminergic input neurons and their respective post-synaptic partners drive opposing feeding behaviors following activation. Together, these results establish the STROBE as a new tool for dissecting fly feeding circuits and suggest a role for mushroom body circuits in processing naïve taste responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Yves Musso
- Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Pierre Junca
- Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Meghan Jelen
- Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Damian Feldman-Kiss
- Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Rachel Cw Chan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Michael D Gordon
- Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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31
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Karam CS, Jones SK, Javitch JA. Come Fly with Me: An overview of dopamine receptors in Drosophila melanogaster. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2019; 126 Suppl 6:56-65. [PMID: 31219669 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) receptors play critical roles in a wide range of behaviours, including sensory processing, motor function, reward and arousal. As such, aberrant DA signalling is associated with numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which DA neurotransmission drives intracellular signalling pathways that modulate behaviour can provide critical insights to guide the development of targeted therapeutics. Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a powerful model with unique advantages to study the mechanisms underlying DA neurotransmission and associated behaviours in a controlled and systematic manner. Many regions in the fly brain innervated by dopaminergic neurons have been mapped and linked to specific behaviours, including associative learning and arousal. Here, we provide an overview of the homology between human and Drosophila dopaminergic systems and review the current literature on the pharmacology, molecular signalling mechanisms and behavioural outcome of DA receptor activation in the Drosophila brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caline S Karam
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, New York, USA.,Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Sandra K Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, New York, USA.,Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Jonathan A Javitch
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, New York, USA.,Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, New York, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, New York, USA
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32
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Bertsch DJ, Martin JP, Svenson GJ, Ritzmann RE. Predatory behavior changes with satiety or increased insulin levels in the praying mantis ( Tenodera sinensis). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:jeb.197673. [PMID: 31160429 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.197673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
At any given moment, behavior is controlled by a combination of external stimuli and an animal's internal state. As physiological conditions change, vastly different behaviors might result from the same stimuli. For example, the motivation to hunt and hunting strategy are influenced by satiety. Here, we describe how sensory responsiveness and motor activity of a praying mantis (Tenodera sinensis) change as the insect feeds, leading to an altered hunting strategy. We further show that these changes can be induced by injection of insulin, which likely functions as a metabotropic indicator. Praying mantises directed their attention toward real and simulated prey less often as they fed and became sated. The range of distance and azimuth at which prey was detected decreased as did pursuit of prey, while opportunistic close-range attacks persisted. Together, these sensorimotor changes are indicative of a behavioral paradigm shift from 'pursuit' to 'ambush'. A similar effect was induced in starved praying mantises injected with 0.05 ml of 200 μg ml-1 bovine insulin. These experiments showed that insulin injection into the circulating hemolymph is sufficient to decrease prey orientation as well as in prey-directed locomotor behaviors (tracking and pursuit). The effects of prey consumption and insulin injection were similarly dose dependent. These results suggest that insulin is a signal of internal, physiological conditions that can modify responses to external stimuli. A change in hunting strategy thus results from coordinated effects of a neurohormone on a set of independent sensorimotor processes and the overall activity level of the animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Bertsch
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Joshua P Martin
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,Department of Biology, Colby College, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
| | - Gavin J Svenson
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Roy E Ritzmann
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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33
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Corfas RA, Sharma T, Dickinson MH. Diverse Food-Sensing Neurons Trigger Idiothetic Local Search in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2019; 29:1660-1668.e4. [PMID: 31056390 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Foraging animals may benefit from remembering the location of a newly discovered food patch while continuing to explore nearby [1, 2]. For example, after encountering a drop of yeast or sugar, hungry flies often perform a local search [3, 4]. That is, rather than remaining on the food or simply walking away, flies execute a series of exploratory excursions during which they repeatedly depart and return to the resource. Fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, can perform this food-centered search behavior in the absence of external landmarks, instead relying on internal (idiothetic) cues [5]. This path-integration behavior may represent a deeply conserved navigational capacity in insects [6, 7], but its underlying neural basis remains unknown. Here, we used optogenetic activation to screen candidate cell classes and found that local searches can be initiated by diverse sensory neurons. Optogenetically induced searches resemble those triggered by actual food, are modulated by starvation state, and exhibit key features of path integration. Flies perform tightly centered searches around the fictive food site, even within a constrained maze, and they can return to the fictive food site after long excursions. Together, these results suggest that flies enact local searches in response to a wide variety of food-associated cues and that these sensory pathways may converge upon a common neural system for navigation. Using a virtual reality system, we demonstrate that local searches can be optogenetically induced in tethered flies walking on a spherical treadmill, laying the groundwork for future studies to image the brain during path integration. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Román A Corfas
- Division of Biology & Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Tarun Sharma
- Division of Biology & Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Michael H Dickinson
- Division of Biology & Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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34
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Engel GL, Taber K, Vinton E, Crocker AJ. Studying alcohol use disorder using Drosophila melanogaster in the era of 'Big Data'. BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN FUNCTIONS : BBF 2019; 15:7. [PMID: 30992041 PMCID: PMC6469124 DOI: 10.1186/s12993-019-0159-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of the networks of genes and protein functions involved in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) remains incomplete, as do the mechanisms by which these networks lead to AUD phenotypes. The fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is an efficient model for functional and mechanistic characterization of the genes involved in alcohol behavior. The fly offers many advantages as a model organism for investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of alcohol-related behaviors, and for understanding the underlying neural circuitry driving behaviors, such as locomotor stimulation, sedation, tolerance, and appetitive (reward) learning and memory. Fly researchers are able to use an extensive variety of tools for functional characterization of gene products. To understand how the fly can guide our understanding of AUD in the era of Big Data we will explore these tools, and review some of the gene networks identified in the fly through their use, including chromatin-remodeling, glial, cellular stress, and innate immunity genes. These networks hold great potential as translational drug targets, making it prudent to conduct further research into how these gene mechanisms are involved in alcohol behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory L. Engel
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Castleton University, Castleton, VT 05735 USA
| | - Kreager Taber
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753 USA
| | - Elizabeth Vinton
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753 USA
| | - Amanda J. Crocker
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753 USA
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35
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Manjila SB, Kuruvilla M, Ferveur JF, Sane SP, Hasan G. Extended Flight Bouts Require Disinhibition from GABAergic Mushroom Body Neurons. Curr Biol 2019; 29:283-293.e5. [PMID: 30612904 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Insect flight is a complex behavior that requires the integration of multiple sensory inputs with flight motor output. Although previous genetic studies identified central brain monoaminergic neurons that modulate Drosophila flight, neuro-modulatory circuits underlying sustained flight bouts remain unexplored. Certain classes of dopaminergic and octopaminergic neurons that project to the mushroom body, a higher integrating center in the insect brain, are known to modify neuronal output based on contextual cues and thereby organismal behavior. This study focuses on how monoaminergic modulation of mushroom body GABAergic output neurons (MBONs) regulates the duration of flight bouts. Octopaminergic neurons in the sub-esophageal zone stimulate central dopaminergic neurons (protocerebral anterior medial, PAM) that project to GABAergic MBONs. Either inhibition of octopaminergic and dopaminergic neurons or activation of GABAergic MBONs reduces the duration of flight bouts. Moreover, activity in the PAM neurons inhibits the GABAergic MBONs. Our data suggest that disinhibition of the identified neural circuit very likely occurs after flight initiation and is required to maintain the "flight state" when searching for distant sites, possibly related to food sources, mating partners, or a suitable egg-laying site. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffy B Manjila
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Maria Kuruvilla
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Jean-Francois Ferveur
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, UMR6265 CNRS, UMR1324 INRA, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Sanjay P Sane
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Gaiti Hasan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India.
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36
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Friedman DA, Pilko A, Skowronska-Krawczyk D, Krasinska K, Parker JW, Hirsh J, Gordon DM. The Role of Dopamine in the Collective Regulation of Foraging in Harvester Ants. iScience 2018; 8:283-294. [PMID: 30270022 PMCID: PMC6205345 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 08/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Colonies of the red harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) differ in how they regulate collective foraging activity in response to changes in humidity. We used transcriptomic, physiological, and pharmacological experiments to investigate the molecular basis of this ecologically important variation in collective behavior among colonies. RNA sequencing of forager brain tissue showed an association between colony foraging activity and differential expression of transcripts related to biogenic amine and neurohormonal metabolism and signaling. In field experiments, pharmacological increases in forager brain dopamine titer caused significant increases in foraging activity. Colonies that were naturally most sensitive to humidity were significantly more responsive to the stimulatory effect of exogenous dopamine. In addition, forager brain tissue significantly varied among colonies in biogenic amine content. Neurophysiological variation among colonies associated with individual forager sensitivity to humidity may reflect the heritable molecular variation on which natural selection acts to shape the collective regulation of foraging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Friedman
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Anna Pilko
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences (QCB), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk
- Shiley Eye Institute, Richard C. Atkinson Lab for Regenerative Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Karolina Krasinska
- Stanford University Mass Spectrometry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jacqueline W Parker
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Jay Hirsh
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Deborah M Gordon
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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37
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Big Lessons from Tiny Flies: Drosophila melanogaster as a Model to Explore Dysfunction of Dopaminergic and Serotonergic Neurotransmitter Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19061788. [PMID: 29914172 PMCID: PMC6032372 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain of Drosophila melanogaster is comprised of some 100,000 neurons, 127 and 80 of which are dopaminergic and serotonergic, respectively. Their activity regulates behavioral functions equivalent to those in mammals, e.g., motor activity, reward and aversion, memory formation, feeding, sexual appetite, etc. Mammalian dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons are known to be heterogeneous. They differ in their projections and in their gene expression profile. A sophisticated genetic tool box is available, which allows for targeting virtually any gene with amazing precision in Drosophila melanogaster. Similarly, Drosophila genes can be replaced by their human orthologs including disease-associated alleles. Finally, genetic manipulation can be restricted to single fly neurons. This has allowed for addressing the role of individual neurons in circuits, which determine attraction and aversion, sleep and arousal, odor preference, etc. Flies harboring mutated human orthologs provide models which can be interrogated to understand the effect of the mutant protein on cell fate and neuronal connectivity. These models are also useful for proof-of-concept studies to examine the corrective action of therapeutic strategies. Finally, experiments in Drosophila can be readily scaled up to an extent, which allows for drug screening with reasonably high throughput.
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