1
|
Bontonou G, Saint-Leandre B, Kafle T, Baticle T, Hassan A, Sánchez-Alcañiz JA, Arguello JR. Evolution of chemosensory tissues and cells across ecologically diverse Drosophilids. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1047. [PMID: 38316749 PMCID: PMC10844241 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44558-4] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory tissues exhibit significant between-species variability, yet the evolution of gene expression and cell types underlying this diversity remain poorly understood. To address these questions, we conducted transcriptomic analyses of five chemosensory tissues from six Drosophila species and integrated the findings with single-cell datasets. While stabilizing selection predominantly shapes chemosensory transcriptomes, thousands of genes in each tissue have evolved expression differences. Genes that have changed expression in one tissue have often changed in multiple other tissues but at different past epochs and are more likely to be cell type-specific than unchanged genes. Notably, chemosensory-related genes have undergone widespread expression changes, with numerous species-specific gains/losses including novel chemoreceptors expression patterns. Sex differences are also pervasive, including a D. melanogaster-specific excess of male-biased expression in sensory and muscle cells in its forelegs. Together, our analyses provide new insights for understanding evolutionary changes in chemosensory tissues at both global and individual gene levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gwénaëlle Bontonou
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Bastien Saint-Leandre
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Tane Kafle
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tess Baticle
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Afrah Hassan
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - J Roman Arguello
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chiba Y, Yosano S, Hori M. Chemosensory input from mouthparts in response to sexually dimorphic cuticular wax mediates male sexual discrimination in Galerucella grisescens (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Sci Rep 2023; 13:21754. [PMID: 38066196 PMCID: PMC10709455 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49272-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The surface of the insect body is covered with a hydrophobic layer called cuticular wax (CW). In addition to functioning as an anti-desiccation agent, CW is critical for chemical communication. It has been reported that in Chrysomelidae, males discriminate between sexes based on the sex-specific CW. However, little is known regarding the underlying sensory basis. Herein, we demonstrate that chemosensory input from mouthparts mediates sexual discrimination in male Galerucella grisescens (Chrysomelidae). Observations of mating behaviour, bioassays for CW, and chemical analyses revealed that G. grisescens possess qualitatively sexually dimorphic CW, and such compositional differences allow males to distinguish between sexes. Using electron microscopy, blocking male chemosensory organs, and electrophysiological experiments, we showed that male mouthparts bear chemosensory sensilla tuned to female CW components, and sensory input from them induces male aedeagal insertion, a common male behavioural response to females. Thus, detecting CW via mouthparts is essential for males to distinguish between sexes, consistent with the fact that males inspect conspecific individuals by licking their body surfaces. To our best knowledge, this is the first report describing the detailed functional roles of mouthparts in sexual discrimination in Coleoptera. We believe that this study will promote further studies on insect chemical communication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Chiba
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8572, Japan
| | - Shun Yosano
- Institute for Plant Protection, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8666, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Hori
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8572, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kaleem Ullah RM, Jia B, Liang S, Sikandar A, Gao F, Wu H. Uncovering the Chemosensory System of a Subterranean Termite, Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) (Isoptera: Termitidae): Revealing the Chemosensory Genes and Gene Expression Patterns. INSECTS 2023; 14:883. [PMID: 37999082 PMCID: PMC10672159 DOI: 10.3390/insects14110883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Termites are eusocial insects. Chemical signals between colony members are crucial to the smooth running of colony operations, but little is known about their olfactory system and the roles played by various chemosensory genes in this process. Chemosensory genes are involved in basic olfactory perception in insects. Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) is one of the most damaging pests to agricultural crops, forests, and human-made structures. To better understand the olfactory system and the genes involved in olfactory processing in O. formosanus, we produced a transcriptome of worker termites. In this study, we identified 13 OforOBPs, 1 OforCSP, 15 OforORs, 9 OforGRs, and 4 OforSNMPs. Multiple sequence alignments were used in the phylogenetic study, which included data from other termite species and a wide variety of insect species. Moreover, we also investigated the mRNA expression levels using qRT-PCR. The significantly high expression levels of OforCSP1, OforOBP2, OforOR1, and OforSNMP1 suggest that these genes may play important roles in olfactory processing in termite social behavior, including caste differentiation, nestmate and non-nestmate discrimination, and the performance of colony operations among members. Our research establishes a foundation for future molecular-level functional studies of chemosensory genes in O. formosanus, which might lead to the identification of novel targets for termite integrated pest management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rana Muhammad Kaleem Ullah
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (R.M.K.U.); (A.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Bao Jia
- Nanning Institute of Termite Control, Nanning 530023, China; (B.J.); (S.L.)
| | - Sheng Liang
- Nanning Institute of Termite Control, Nanning 530023, China; (B.J.); (S.L.)
| | - Aatika Sikandar
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (R.M.K.U.); (A.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Fukun Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (R.M.K.U.); (A.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Haiyan Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (R.M.K.U.); (A.S.); (F.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Coleman RT, Morantte I, Koreman GT, Cheng ML, Ding Y, Ruta V. A modular circuit architecture coordinates the diversification of courtship strategies in Drosophila. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.16.558080. [PMID: 37745588 PMCID: PMC10516016 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.16.558080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Identifying a mate is a central imperative for males of most species but poses the challenge of distinguishing a suitable partner from an array of potential male competitors or females of related species. Mate recognition systems are thus subject to strong selective pressures, driving the rapid coevolution of female sensory cues and male sensory preferences. Here we leverage the rapid evolution of female pheromones across the Drosophila genus to gain insight into how males coordinately adapt their detection and interpretation of these chemical cues to hone their mating strategies. While in some Drosophila species females produce unique pheromones that act to attract and arouse their conspecific males, the pheromones of most species are sexually monomorphic such that females possess no distinguishing chemosensory signatures that males can use for mate recognition. By comparing several close and distantly-related Drosophila species, we reveal that D. yakuba males have evolved the distinct ability to use a sexually-monomorphic pheromone, 7-tricosene (7-T), as an excitatory cue to promote courtship, a sensory innovation that enables D. yakuba males to court in the dark thereby expanding their reproductive opportunities. To gain insight into the neural adaptations that enable 7-T to act as an excitatory cue, we compared the functional properties of two key nodes within the pheromone circuits of D. yakuba and a subset of its closest relatives. We show that the instructive role of 7-T in D. yakuba arises from concurrent peripheral and central circuit changes: a distinct subpopulation of sensory neurons has acquired sensitivity to 7-T which in turn selectively signals to a distinct subset of P1 neurons in the central brain that trigger courtship behaviors. Such a modular circuit organization, in which different sensory inputs can independently couple to multiple parallel courtship control nodes, may facilitate the evolution of mate recognition systems by allowing males to take advantage of novel sensory modalities to become aroused. Together, our findings suggest how peripheral and central circuit adaptations can be flexibly linked to underlie the rapid evolution of mate recognition and courtship strategies across species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rory T. Coleman
- Laboatory of Neurophysiology and Behavior and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Ianessa Morantte
- Laboatory of Neurophysiology and Behavior and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Gabriel T. Koreman
- Laboatory of Neurophysiology and Behavior and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Megan L. Cheng
- Laboatory of Neurophysiology and Behavior and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Yun Ding
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Vanessa Ruta
- Laboatory of Neurophysiology and Behavior and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ha TS, Sengupta S, Powell J, Smith DP. An angiotensin converting enzyme homolog is required for volatile pheromone detection, odorant binding protein secretion and normal courtship behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 2023; 224:iyad109. [PMID: 37283550 PMCID: PMC10484059 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad109] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In many arthropods, including insects responsible for transmission of human diseases, behaviors that include mating, aggregation, and aggression are triggered by detection of pheromones. Extracellular odorant binding proteins are critical for pheromone detection in many insects and are secreted into the fluid bathing the olfactory neuron dendrites. In Drosophila melanogaster, the odorant binding protein LUSH is essential for normal sensitivity to the volatile sex pheromone, 11-cis vaccenyl acetate (cVA). Using a genetic screen for cVA pheromone insensitivity, we identified ANCE-3, a homolog of human angiotensin converting enzyme that is required for detection of cVA pheromone. The mutants have normal dose-response curves for food odors, although olfactory neuron amplitudes are reduced in all olfactory neurons examined. ance-3 mutants have profound delays in mating, and the courtship defects are primarily but not exclusively due to loss of ance-3 function in males. We demonstrate that ANCE-3 is required in the sensillae support cells for normal reproductive behavior, and that localization of odorant binding proteins to the sensillum lymph is blocked in the mutants. Expression of an ance-3 cDNA in sensillae support cells completely rescues the cVA responses, LUSH localization, and courtship defects. We show the courtship latency defects are not due to effects on olfactory neurons in the antenna nor mediated through ORCO receptors, but instead stem from ANCE-3-dependent effects on chemosensory sensillae in other body parts. These findings reveal an unexpected factor critical for pheromone detection with profound influence on reproductive behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tal Soo Ha
- Department of Biomedical Science, Daegu University, 201 Daegudae-ro, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk, 38453 Republic of Korea
| | - Samarpita Sengupta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies, School of Health Professions, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
| | - Jordan Powell
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
| | - Dean P Smith
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
- O’Donnell Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kohlmeier P, Billeter JC. Genetic mechanisms modulating behaviour through plastic chemosensory responses in insects. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:45-60. [PMID: 36239485 PMCID: PMC10092625 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16739] [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: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The ability to transition between different behavioural stages is a widespread phenomenon across the animal kingdom. Such behavioural adaptations are often linked to changes in the sensitivity of those neurons that sense chemical cues associated with the respective behaviours. To identify the genetic mechanisms that regulate neuronal sensitivity, and by that behaviour, typically *omics approaches, such as RNA- and protein-sequencing, are applied to sensory organs of individuals displaying differences in behaviour. In this review, we discuss these genetic mechanisms and how they impact neuronal sensitivity, summarize the correlative and functional evidence for their role in regulating behaviour and discuss future directions. As such, this review can help interpret *omics data by providing a comprehensive list of already identified genes and mechanisms that impact behaviour through changes in neuronal sensitivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip Kohlmeier
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Christophe Billeter
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wu X, Wang S, Zhao X, Wen J, Li Y, Zhao Z, Du J. Analysis of sleep in individual Drosophila melanogaster reveals a self-regulatory role for cuticular hydrocarbons pheromones. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:1737-1746. [PMID: 35199930 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
It is well established that pheromones are used by insects to transmit information between individuals. However, research has revealed that individual insects can be both the sender and the receiver of some pheromonal signals. It is therefore interesting to consider whether the pheromonal state of an individual insect can exert an effect on itself. In this study, we monitored the sleep activity of single flies exhibiting a mutation that leads to pheromonal deficiency and found that cuticular hydrocarbons (CHs) exerted self-regulatory effects on the amount of sleep experienced by these flies. To identify the physiological significance of this mechanism, we compared the amounts of sleep in individual young flies and individual old flies (flies are known to sleep less as they get older) and compared this data with young and old flies exhibiting mutations that lead to CH reception defects. The differences in the amount of sleep experienced by young and old mutant flies were significantly lower than those of the control flies. Our data show that hydrocarbon signals produced by the cuticle in Drosophila can be self-perceived and regulate the amount of sleep acquired in a maturation-dependent manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Wu
- Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Su Wang
- Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xianguo Zhao
- Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wen
- Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yahong Li
- Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhangwu Zhao
- Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Montagné N, Jager M, Chertemps T, Persyn E, Jaszczyszyn Y, Meslin C, Jacquin-Joly E, Manuel M. The Chemosensory Transcriptome of a Diving Beetle. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.773915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects astoundingly dominate Earth’s land ecosystems and have a huge impact on human life. Almost every aspect of their life relies upon their highly efficient and adaptable chemosensory system. In the air, most chemical signals that are detected at long range are hydrophobic molecules, which insects detect using proteins encoded by multigenic families that emerged following land colonization by insect ancestors, namely the odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and the odorant receptors (ORs). However, land-to-freshwater transitions occurred in many lineages within the insect tree of life. Whether chemosensory gene repertoires of aquatic insects remained essentially unchanged or underwent more or less drastic modifications to cope with physico-chemical constraints associated with life underwater remains virtually unknown. To address this issue, we sequenced and analyzed the transcriptome of chemosensory organs of the diving beetle Rhantus suturalis (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae). A reference transcriptome was assembled de novo using reads from five RNA-seq libraries (male and female antennae, male and female palps, and wing muscle). It contained 47,570 non-redundant unigenes encoding proteins of more than 50 amino acids. Within this reference transcriptome, we annotated sequences coding 53 OBPs, 48 ORs, 73 gustatory receptors (GRs), and 53 ionotropic receptors (IRs). Phylogenetic analyses notably revealed a large OBP gene expansion (35 paralogs in R. suturalis) as well as a more modest OR gene expansion (9 paralogs in R. suturalis) that may be specific to diving beetles. Interestingly, these duplicated genes tend to be expressed in palps rather than in antennae, suggesting a possible adaptation with respect to the land-to-water transition. This work provides a strong basis for further evolutionary and functional studies that will elucidate how insect chemosensory systems adapted to life underwater.
Collapse
|
9
|
Montell C. Drosophila sensory receptors-a set of molecular Swiss Army Knives. Genetics 2021; 217:1-34. [PMID: 33683373 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyaa011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic approaches in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, have led to a major triumph in the field of sensory biology-the discovery of multiple large families of sensory receptors and channels. Some of these families, such as transient receptor potential channels, are conserved from animals ranging from worms to humans, while others, such as "gustatory receptors," "olfactory receptors," and "ionotropic receptors," are restricted to invertebrates. Prior to the identification of sensory receptors in flies, it was widely assumed that these proteins function in just one modality such as vision, smell, taste, hearing, and somatosensation, which includes thermosensation, light, and noxious mechanical touch. By employing a vast combination of genetic, behavioral, electrophysiological, and other approaches in flies, a major concept to emerge is that many sensory receptors are multitaskers. The earliest example of this idea was the discovery that individual transient receptor potential channels function in multiple senses. It is now clear that multitasking is exhibited by other large receptor families including gustatory receptors, ionotropic receptors, epithelial Na+ channels (also referred to as Pickpockets), and even opsins, which were formerly thought to function exclusively as light sensors. Genetic characterizations of these Drosophila receptors and the neurons that express them also reveal the mechanisms through which flies can accurately differentiate between different stimuli even when they activate the same receptor, as well as mechanisms of adaptation, amplification, and sensory integration. The insights gleaned from studies in flies have been highly influential in directing investigations in many other animal models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Craig Montell
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, The Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Moscato EH, Dubowy C, Walker JA, Kayser MS. Social Behavioral Deficits with Loss of Neurofibromin Emerge from Peripheral Chemosensory Neuron Dysfunction. Cell Rep 2021; 32:107856. [PMID: 32640222 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with social and communicative disabilities. The cellular and circuit mechanisms by which loss of neurofibromin 1 (Nf1) results in social deficits are unknown. Here, we identify social behavioral dysregulation with Nf1 loss in Drosophila. These deficits map to primary dysfunction of a group of peripheral sensory neurons. Nf1 regulation of Ras signaling in adult ppk23+ chemosensory cells is required for normal social behaviors in flies. Loss of Nf1 attenuates ppk23+ neuronal activity in response to pheromones, and circuit-specific manipulation of Nf1 expression or neuronal activity in ppk23+ neurons rescues social deficits. This disrupted sensory processing gives rise to persistent changes in behavior beyond the social interaction, indicating a sustained effect of an acute sensory misperception. Together our data identify a specific circuit mechanism through which Nf1 regulates social behaviors and suggest social deficits in NF1 arise from propagation of sensory misinformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilia H Moscato
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christine Dubowy
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - James A Walker
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Matthew S Kayser
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
DEG/ENaC Ion Channels in the Function of the Nervous System: From Worm to Man. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1349:165-192. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-4254-8_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
12
|
Zhang Y, Ng R, Neville MC, Goodwin SF, Su CY. Distinct Roles and Synergistic Function of Fru M Isoforms in Drosophila Olfactory Receptor Neurons. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108516. [PMID: 33326795 PMCID: PMC7845487 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in Drosophila courtship circuits requires the male-specific transcription factor fruM, which is alternatively spliced to encode the FruMA, FruMB, and FruMC isoforms. Most fruM-positive neurons express multiple variants; however, the functional significance of their co-expression remains undetermined. Do co-expressed isoforms each play unique roles to jointly regulate dimorphism? By focusing on fruM-positive olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), here, we show that FruMB and FruMC are both required for males' age-dependent sensitization to aphrodisiac olfactory cues in a cell-autonomous manner. Interestingly, FruMB expression is upregulated with age in Or47b and Ir84a ORNs, and its overexpression mimics the effect of age in elevating olfactory responses. Mechanistically, FruMB and FruMC synergistically mediate response sensitization through cooperation of their respective downstream effectors, namely, PPK25 and PPK23, which are both required for forming a functional amplification channel in ORNs. Together, these results provide critical mechanistic insight into how co-expressed FruM isoforms jointly coordinate dimorphic neurophysiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ye Zhang
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Renny Ng
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Megan C Neville
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Stephen F Goodwin
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Chih-Ying Su
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sato K, Yamamoto D. Contact-Chemosensory Evolution Underlying Reproductive Isolation in Drosophila Species. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:597428. [PMID: 33343311 PMCID: PMC7746553 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.597428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The main theme of the review is how changes in pheromone biochemistry and the sensory circuits underlying pheromone detection contribute to mate choice and reproductive isolation. The review focuses primarily on gustatory and non-volatile signals in Drosophila. Premating isolation is prevalent among closely related species. In Drosophila, preference for conspecifics against other species in mate choice underlies premating isolation, and such preference relies on contact chemosensory communications between a female and male along with other biological factors. For example, although D. simulans and D. melanogaster are sibling species that yield hybrids, their premating isolation is maintained primarily by the contrasting effects of 7,11-heptacosadiene (7,11-HD), a predominant female pheromone in D. melanogaster, on males of the two species: it attracts D. melanogaster males and repels D. simulans males. The contrasting preference for 7,11-HD in males of these two species is mainly ascribed to opposite effects of 7,11-HD on neural activities in the courtship decision-making neurons in the male brain: 7,11-HD provokes both excitatory and inhibitory inputs in these neurons and differences in the balance between the two counteracting inputs result in the contrasting preference for 7,11-HD, i.e., attraction in D. melanogaster and repulsion in D. simulans. Introduction of two double bonds is a key step in 7,11-HD biosynthesis and is mediated by the desaturase desatF, which is active in D. melanogaster females but transcriptionally inactivated in D. simulans females. Thus, 7,11-HD biosynthesis diversified in females and 7,11-HD perception diversified in males, yet it remains elusive how concordance of the changes in the two sexes was attained in evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Daisuke Yamamoto
- Neuro-Network Evolution Project, Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Chen YCD, Dahanukar A. Recent advances in the genetic basis of taste detection in Drosophila. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1087-1101. [PMID: 31598735 PMCID: PMC7125039 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03320-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The insect gustatory system senses taste information from environmental food substrates and processes it to control feeding behaviors. Drosophila melanogaster has been a powerful genetic model for investigating how various chemical cues are detected at the molecular and cellular levels. In addition to an understanding of how tastants belonging to five historically described taste modalities (sweet, bitter, acid, salt, and amino acid) are sensed, recent findings have identified taste neurons and receptors that recognize tastants of non-canonical modalities, including fatty acids, carbonated water, polyamines, H2O2, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), ammonia, and calcium. Analyses of response profiles of taste neurons expressing different suites of chemosensory receptors have allowed exploration of taste coding mechanisms in primary sensory neurons. In this review, we present the current knowledge of the molecular and cellular basis of taste detection of various categories of tastants. We also summarize evidence for organotopic and multimodal functions of the taste system. Functional characterization of peripheral taste neurons in different organs has greatly increased our understanding of how insect behavior is regulated by the gustatory system, which may inform development of novel insect pest control strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chieh David Chen
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Anupama Dahanukar
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Shansky RM. Sex differences in 3D: Differentiation, dimorphism, or dependence? GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 19:e12642. [PMID: 32017390 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
|
16
|
Ng R, Salem SS, Wu ST, Wu M, Lin HH, Shepherd AK, Joiner WJ, Wang JW, Su CY. Amplification of Drosophila Olfactory Responses by a DEG/ENaC Channel. Neuron 2019; 104:947-959.e5. [PMID: 31629603 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.08.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Insect olfactory receptors operate as ligand-gated ion channels that directly transduce odor stimuli into electrical signals. However, in the absence of any known intermediate transduction steps, it remains unclear whether and how these ionotropic inputs are amplified in olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). Here, we find that amplification occurs in the Drosophila courtship-promoting ORNs through Pickpocket 25 (PPK25), a member of the degenerin/epithelial sodium channel family (DEG/ENaC). Pharmacological and genetic manipulations indicate that, in Or47b and Ir84a ORNs, PPK25 mediates Ca2+-dependent signal amplification via an intracellular calmodulin-binding motif. Additionally, hormonal signaling upregulates PPK25 expression to determine the degree of amplification, with striking effects on male courtship. Together, these findings advance our understanding of sensory neurobiology by identifying an amplification mechanism compatible with ionotropic signaling. Moreover, this study offers new insights into DEG/ENaC activation by highlighting a novel means of regulation that is likely conserved across species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renny Ng
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Secilia S Salem
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Shiuan-Tze Wu
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Meilin Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Hui-Hao Lin
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Andrew K Shepherd
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - William J Joiner
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jing W Wang
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Chih-Ying Su
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Narasimha S, Nagornov KO, Menin L, Mucciolo A, Rohwedder A, Humbel BM, Stevens M, Thum AS, Tsybin YO, Vijendravarma RK. Drosophila melanogaster cloak their eggs with pheromones, which prevents cannibalism. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e2006012. [PMID: 30629594 PMCID: PMC6328083 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Oviparous animals across many taxa have evolved diverse strategies that deter egg predation, providing valuable tests of how natural selection mitigates direct fitness loss. Communal egg laying in nonsocial species minimizes egg predation. However, in cannibalistic species, this very behavior facilitates egg predation by conspecifics (cannibalism). Similarly, toxins and aposematic signaling that deter egg predators are often inefficient against resistant conspecifics. Egg cannibalism can be adaptive, wherein cannibals may benefit through reduced competition and added nutrition, but since it reduces Darwinian fitness, the evolution of anticannibalistic strategies is rife. However, such strategies are likely to be nontoxic because deploying toxins against related individuals would reduce inclusive fitness. Here, we report how D. melanogaster use specific hydrocarbons to chemically mask their eggs from cannibal larvae. Using an integrative approach combining behavioral, sensory, and mass spectrometry methods, we demonstrate that maternally provisioned pheromone 7,11-heptacosadiene (7,11-HD) in the eggshell’s wax layer deters egg cannibalism. Furthermore, we show that 7,11-HD is nontoxic, can mask underlying substrates (for example, yeast) when coated upon them, and its detection requires pickpocket 23 (ppk23) gene function. Finally, using light and electron microscopy, we demonstrate how maternal pheromones leak-proof the egg, consequently concealing it from conspecific larvae. Our data suggest that semiochemicals possibly subserve in deceptive functions across taxa, especially when predators rely on chemical cues to forage, and stimulate further research on deceptive strategies mediated through nonvisual sensory modules. This study thus highlights how integrative approaches can illuminate our understanding on the adaptive significance of deceptive defenses and the mechanisms through which they operate. Egg-laying species that lack parental care often protect their eggs from predators by laying them in communal groups or by fortifying them with toxins. However, these strategies may backfire when the predators are from the same species (cannibals) since a) there are plenty of available eggs in these sites, b) the cannibals may be resistant to the toxins, and c) poisoning cannibals who may be related would reduce inclusive fitness. Under these circumstances, natural selection should favor anticannibalistic strategies that are likely to be nontoxic. Here, we investigate how fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), which oviposit communally, protect their eggs from cannibalism by their own larvae. We show that maternal hydrocarbons incorporated into the egg’s wax layer to make them waterproof interestingly also serve as a mask that conceals their identity from cannibal larvae. In particular, we identify one female sex pheromone that deters cannibalism by forming a layer around the egg to conceal it. We further demonstrate that this pheromone is nontoxic and can mask underlying substrates such as yeast when used as a coating. While deceptive strategies (such as camouflage) deployed to avoid predation are extensively studied from a visual perspective, our findings suggest that deceptive strategies operating through other nonvisual sensory systems might be equally common across taxa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sunitha Narasimha
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Laure Menin
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Antonio Mucciolo
- Electron Microscopy Facility, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Astrid Rohwedder
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bruno M. Humbel
- Electron Microscopy Facility, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martin Stevens
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas S. Thum
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Yury O. Tsybin
- Spectroswiss Sàrl, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | |
Collapse
|