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Schretter CE, Sten TH, Klapoetke N, Shao M, Nern A, Dreher M, Bushey D, Robie AA, Taylor AL, Branson KM, Otopalik A, Ruta V, Rubin GM. Social state gates vision using three circuit mechanisms in Drosophila. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.15.585289. [PMID: 38559111 PMCID: PMC10979952 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.15.585289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Animals are often bombarded with visual information and must prioritize specific visual features based on their current needs. The neuronal circuits that detect and relay visual features have been well-studied. Yet, much less is known about how an animal adjusts its visual attention as its goals or environmental conditions change. During social behaviors, flies need to focus on nearby flies. Here, we study how the flow of visual information is altered when female Drosophila enter an aggressive state. From the connectome, we identified three state-dependent circuit motifs poised to selectively amplify the response of an aggressive female to fly-sized visual objects: convergence of excitatory inputs from neurons conveying select visual features and internal state; dendritic disinhibition of select visual feature detectors; and a switch that toggles between two visual feature detectors. Using cell-type-specific genetic tools, together with behavioral and neurophysiological analyses, we show that each of these circuit motifs function during female aggression. We reveal that features of this same switch operate in males during courtship pursuit, suggesting that disparate social behaviors may share circuit mechanisms. Our work provides a compelling example of using the connectome to infer circuit mechanisms that underlie dynamic processing of sensory signals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tom Hindmarsh Sten
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nathan Klapoetke
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Mei Shao
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Aljoscha Nern
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Marisa Dreher
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Daniel Bushey
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Alice A Robie
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Adam L Taylor
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Kristin M Branson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Adriane Otopalik
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Vanessa Ruta
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gerald M Rubin
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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Sten TH, Li R, Hollunder F, Eleazer S, Ruta V. Male-male interactions shape mate selection in Drosophila. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.03.565582. [PMID: 37961193 PMCID: PMC10635267 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.03.565582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Males of many species have evolved behavioral traits to both attract females and repel rivals. Here, we explore mate selection in Drosophila from both the male and female perspective to shed light on how these key components of sexual selection - female choice and male-male competition - work in concert to guide reproductive strategies. We find that male flies fend off competing suitors by interleaving their courtship of a female with aggressive wing flicks, which both repel competitors and generate a 'song' that obscures the female's auditory perception of other potential mates. Two higher-order circuit nodes - P1a and pC1x neurons - are coordinately recruited to allow males to flexibly interleave these agonistic actions with courtship displays, assuring they persistently pursue females until their rival falters. Together, our results suggest that female mating decisions are shaped by male-male interactions, underscoring how a male's ability to subvert his rivals is central to his reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Hindmarsh Sten
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Present address: Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Rufei Li
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Florian Hollunder
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shadé Eleazer
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vanessa Ruta
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
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3
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Sato K, Yamamoto D. Molecular and cellular origins of behavioral sex differences: a tiny little fly tells a lot. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1284367. [PMID: 37928065 PMCID: PMC10622783 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1284367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavioral sex differences primarily derive from the sexually dimorphic organization of neural circuits that direct the behavior. In Drosophila melanogaster, the sex-determination genes fruitless (fru) and doublesex (dsx) play pivotal roles in producing the sexual dimorphism of neural circuits for behavior. Here we examine three neural groups expressing fru and/or dsx, i.e., the P1 cluster, aSP-f and aSP-g cluster pairs and aDN cluster, in which causal relationships between the dimorphic behavior and dimorphic neural characteristics are best illustrated. aSP-f, aSP-g and aDN clusters represent examples where fru or dsx switches cell-autonomously their neurite structures between the female-type and male-type. Processed sensory inputs impinging on these neurons may result in outputs that encode different valences, which culminate in the execution of distinct behavior according to the sex. In contrast, the P1 cluster is male-specific as its female counterpart undergoes dsx-driven cell death, which lowers the threshold for the induction of male-specific behaviors. We propose that the products of fru and dsx genes, as terminal selectors in sexually dimorphic neuronal wiring, induce and maintain the sex-typical chromatin state at postembryonic stages, orchestrating the transcription of effector genes that shape single neuron structures and govern cell survival and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosei Sato
- Neuro-ICT Laboratory, Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yamamoto
- Neuro-ICT Laboratory, Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
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4
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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.
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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
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Currier TA, Pang MM, Clandinin TR. Visual processing in the fly, from photoreceptors to behavior. Genetics 2023; 224:iyad064. [PMID: 37128740 PMCID: PMC10213501 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Originally a genetic model organism, the experimental use of Drosophila melanogaster has grown to include quantitative behavioral analyses, sophisticated perturbations of neuronal function, and detailed sensory physiology. A highlight of these developments can be seen in the context of vision, where pioneering studies have uncovered fundamental and generalizable principles of sensory processing. Here we begin with an overview of vision-guided behaviors and common methods for probing visual circuits. We then outline the anatomy and physiology of brain regions involved in visual processing, beginning at the sensory periphery and ending with descending motor control. Areas of focus include contrast and motion detection in the optic lobe, circuits for visual feature selectivity, computations in support of spatial navigation, and contextual associative learning. Finally, we look to the future of fly visual neuroscience and discuss promising topics for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Currier
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michelle M Pang
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Thomas R Clandinin
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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6
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Mabuchi Y, Cui X, Xie L, Kim H, Jiang T, Yapici N. GABA-mediated inhibition in visual feedback neurons fine-tunes Drosophila male courtship. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.25.525544. [PMID: 36747836 PMCID: PMC9900824 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.25.525544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Vision is critical for the regulation of mating behaviors in many species. Here, we discovered that the Drosophila ortholog of human GABA A -receptor-associated protein (GABARAP) is required to fine-tune male courtship by modulating the activity of visual feedback neurons, lamina tangential cells (Lat). GABARAP is a ubiquitin-like protein that regulates cell-surface levels of GABA A receptors. Knocking down GABARAP or GABA A receptors in Lat neurons or hyperactivating them induces male courtship toward other males. Inhibiting Lat neurons, on the other hand, delays copulation by impairing the ability of males to follow females. Remarkably, the human ortholog of Drosophila GABARAP restores function in Lat neurons. Using in vivo two-photon imaging and optogenetics, we show that Lat neurons are functionally connected to neural circuits that mediate visually-guided courtship pursuits in males. Our work reveals a novel physiological role for GABARAP in fine-tuning the activity of a visual circuit that tracks a mating partner during courtship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Mabuchi
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Xinyue Cui
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Lily Xie
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Haein Kim
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Tianxing Jiang
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Nilay Yapici
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA
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7
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Ryu L, Kim SY, Kim AJ. From Photons to Behaviors: Neural Implementations of Visual Behaviors in Drosophila. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:883640. [PMID: 35600623 PMCID: PMC9115102 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.883640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural implementations of visual behaviors in Drosophila have been dissected intensively in the past couple of decades. The availability of premiere genetic toolkits, behavioral assays in tethered or freely moving conditions, and advances in connectomics have permitted the understanding of the physiological and anatomical details of the nervous system underlying complex visual behaviors. In this review, we describe recent advances on how various features of a visual scene are detected by the Drosophila visual system and how the neural circuits process these signals and elicit an appropriate behavioral response. Special emphasis was laid on the neural circuits that detect visual features such as brightness, color, local motion, optic flow, and translating or approaching visual objects, which would be important for behaviors such as phototaxis, optomotor response, attraction (or aversion) to moving objects, navigation, and visual learning. This review offers an integrative framework for how the fly brain detects visual features and orchestrates an appropriate behavioral response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leesun Ryu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sung Yong Kim
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Anmo J. Kim
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Anmo J. Kim,
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8
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Jezovit JA, Alwash N, Levine JD. Using Flies to Understand Social Networks. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:755093. [PMID: 34924963 PMCID: PMC8683092 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.755093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Many animals live in groups and interact with each other, creating an organized collective structure. Social network analysis (SNA) is a statistical tool that aids in revealing and understanding the organized patterns of shared social connections between individuals in groups. Surprisingly, the application of SNA revealed that Drosophila melanogaster, previously considered a solitary organism, displays group dynamics and that the structure of group life is inherited. Although the number of studies investigating Drosophila social networks is currently limited, they address a wide array of questions that have only begun to capture the details of group level behavior in this insect. Here, we aim to review these studies, comparing their respective scopes and the methods used, to draw parallels between them and the broader body of knowledge available. For example, we highlight how despite methodological differences, there are similarities across studies investigating the effects of social isolation on social network dynamics. Finally, this review aims to generate hypotheses and predictions that inspire future research in the emerging field of Drosophila social networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A. Jezovit
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Nawar Alwash
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Joel D. Levine
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- International Research Centre for Neurointelligence, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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9
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Sexual arousal gates visual processing during Drosophila courtship. Nature 2021; 595:549-553. [PMID: 34234348 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03714-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Long-lasting internal arousal states motivate and pattern ongoing behaviour, enabling the temporary emergence of innate behavioural programs that serve the needs of an animal, such as fighting, feeding, and mating. However, how internal states shape sensory processing or behaviour remains unclear. In Drosophila, male flies perform a lengthy and elaborate courtship ritual that is triggered by the activation of sexually dimorphic P1 neurons1-5, during which they faithfully follow and sing to a female6,7. Here, by recording from males as they court a virtual 'female', we gain insight into how the salience of visual cues is transformed by a male's internal arousal state to give rise to persistent courtship pursuit. The gain of LC10a visual projection neurons is selectively increased during courtship, enhancing their sensitivity to moving targets. A concise network model indicates that visual signalling through the LC10a circuit, once amplified by P1-mediated arousal, almost fully specifies a male's tracking of a female. Furthermore, P1 neuron activity correlates with ongoing fluctuations in the intensity of a male's pursuit to continuously tune the gain of the LC10a pathway. Together, these results reveal how a male's internal state can dynamically modulate the propagation of visual signals through a high-fidelity visuomotor circuit to guide his moment-to-moment performance of courtship.
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10
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Monyak RE, Golbari NM, Chan YB, Pranevicius A, Tang G, Fernández MP, Kravitz EA. Masculinized Drosophila females adapt their fighting strategies to their opponent. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.238006. [PMID: 33568440 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.238006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Many animal species show aggression to gain mating partners and to protect territories and other resources from competitors. Both male and female fruit flies of the species Drosophila melanogaster exhibit aggression in same-sex pairings, but the strategies used are sexually dimorphic. We have begun to explore the biological basis for the differing aggression strategies, and the cues promoting one form of aggression over the other. Here, we describe a line of genetically masculinized females that switch between male and female aggression patterns based on the sexual identity of their opponents. When these masculinized females are paired with more aggressive opponents, they increase the amount of male-like aggression they use, but do not alter the level of female aggression. This suggests that male aggression may be more highly responsive to behavioral cues than female aggression. Although the masculinized females of this line show opponent-dependent changes in aggression and courtship behavior, locomotor activity and sleep are unaffected. Thus, the driver line used may specifically masculinize neurons involved in social behavior. A discussion of possible different roles of male and female aggression in fruit flies is included here. These results can serve as precursors to future experiments aimed at elucidating the circuitry and triggering cues underlying sexually dimorphic aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Monyak
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nicole M Golbari
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yick-Bun Chan
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ausra Pranevicius
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York City, NY 10027, USA
| | - Grace Tang
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York City, NY 10027, USA
| | - Maria Paz Fernández
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York City, NY 10027, USA
| | - Edward A Kravitz
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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11
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Romano D, Stefanini C. Bio-robotic cues show how the Trinidadian guppy male recognises the morphological features of receptive females. Behav Processes 2020; 182:104283. [PMID: 33227377 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Sensory fusion is used by the males of several animal species to discriminate the mating status of females by evaluating their phenotypic traits. The predominant trait used is olfactory cues, and the role of visual cues is not yet fully understood. The ability of Poecilia reticulata males to evaluate females' receptivity based on visual cues was investigated. Guppy males adopt two different mating strategies, courtship displays and forced copulation, towards receptive and pregnant females, respectively. Robotic counterparts mimicking receptive and pregnant females were developed to test whether males relied only on visual information to determine a females' mating status. Exposure to the robotic receptive females evoked courtship behaviours, while forced copulation attempts were more frequent towards the robotic pregnant females. When the robotic fish were simultaneously exposed, regardless of the presence or absence of receptive-female olfactory cues, males expressed their preference for the receptive female. Visual processing showed that fish social interactions played a strategic role in their collection of information, especially when other stimuli were not available. The proposed ethorobotic approach allowed for assessing the role of visual cues in the mating choice of P. reticulata males and highlighting the information processing methods and cognition in aquatic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donato Romano
- The BioRobotics Institute, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Pisa, Italy; Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Cesare Stefanini
- The BioRobotics Institute, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Pisa, Italy; Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127, Pisa, Italy; Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center (HEIC), Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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12
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Bidaye SS, Laturney M, Chang AK, Liu Y, Bockemühl T, Büschges A, Scott K. Two Brain Pathways Initiate Distinct Forward Walking Programs in Drosophila. Neuron 2020; 108:469-485.e8. [PMID: 32822613 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
An animal at rest or engaged in stationary behaviors can instantaneously initiate goal-directed walking. How descending brain inputs trigger rapid transitions from a non-walking state to an appropriate walking state is unclear. Here, we identify two neuronal types, P9 and BPN, in the Drosophila brain that, upon activation, initiate and maintain two distinct coordinated walking patterns. P9 drives forward walking with ipsilateral turning, receives inputs from central courtship-promoting neurons and visual projection neurons, and is necessary for a male to pursue a female during courtship. In contrast, BPN drives straight, forward walking and is not required during courtship. BPN is instead recruited during and required for fast, straight, forward walking bouts. Thus, this study reveals separate brain pathways for object-directed walking and fast, straight, forward walking, providing insight into how the brain initiates context-appropriate walking programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salil S Bidaye
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Meghan Laturney
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Amy K Chang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Yuejiang Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Till Bockemühl
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Ansgar Büschges
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Kristin Scott
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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13
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Shahandeh MP, Brock C, Turner TL. Light dependent courtship behavior in Drosophila simulans and D. melanogaster. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9499. [PMID: 32742789 PMCID: PMC7369021 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences in courtship signals and perception are well-known among Drosophila species. One such described difference is the dependency on light, and thus presumably vision, for copulation success. Many studies have described a difference in light-dependent copulation success between D. melanogaster and D. simulans, identifying D. simulans as a light-dependent species, and D. melanogaster as a light-independent one. However, many of these studies use assays of varying design and few strains to represent the entire species. Here, we attempt to better characterize this purported difference using 11 strains of each species, paired by collection location, in behavioral assays conducted at two different exposure times. We show that, while there is a species-wide difference in magnitude of light-dependent copulation success, D. melanogaster copulation success is, on average, still impaired in the dark at both exposure times we measured. Additionally, there is significant variation in strain-specific ability to copulate in the dark in both species across two different exposure times. We find that this variation correlates strongly with longitude in D. melanogaster, but not in D. simulans. We hypothesize that differences in species history and demography may explain behavioral variation. Finally, we use courtship assays to show that light-dependent copulation success in one D. simulans strain is driven in part by both males and females. We discuss potential differences in courtship signals and/or signal importance between these species and potential for further comparative studies for functional characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Shahandeh
- Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - Cameryn Brock
- Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - Thomas L. Turner
- Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
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14
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Lenschow C, Lima SQ. In the mood for sex: neural circuits for reproduction. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 60:155-168. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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15
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Williamson WR, Peek MY, Breads P, Coop B, Card GM. Tools for Rapid High-Resolution Behavioral Phenotyping of Automatically Isolated Drosophila. Cell Rep 2019; 25:1636-1649.e5. [PMID: 30404015 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.10.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sparse manipulation of neuron excitability during free behavior is critical for identifying neural substrates of behavior. Genetic tools for precise neuronal manipulation exist in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, but behavioral tools are still lacking to identify potentially subtle phenotypes only detectible using high-throughput and high spatiotemporal resolution. We developed three assay components that can be used modularly to study natural and optogenetically induced behaviors. FlyGate automatically releases flies one at a time into an assay. FlyDetect tracks flies in real time, is robust to severe occlusions, and can be used to track appendages, such as the head. GlobeDisplay is a spherical projection system covering the fly's visual receptive field with a single projector. We demonstrate the utility of these components in an integrated system, FlyPEZ, by comprehensively modeling the input-output function for directional looming-evoked escape takeoffs and describing a millisecond-timescale phenotype from genetic silencing of a single visual projection neuron type.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Y Peek
- Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Patrick Breads
- Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Brian Coop
- Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Gwyneth M Card
- Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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16
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McKelvey EG, Fabre CC. Recent neurogenetic findings in insect courtship behaviour. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 36:103-110. [PMID: 31546094 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Insect courtship parades consist of series of innate and stereotyped behaviours that become hardwired-in during the development of the nervous system. As such, insect courtship behaviour provides an excellent model for probing the principles of neuronal assembly, which underlie patterns of behaviour. Here, we present the main advances of recent studies - in species all the way from flies to planthoppers - and we envisage how these could lead to further propitious findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Gz McKelvey
- University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Cg Fabre
- University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom.
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17
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Rings A, Goodwin SF. To court or not to court - a multimodal sensory decision in Drosophila males. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 35:48-53. [PMID: 31336357 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
When Drosophila males encounter another fly, they have to make a rapid assessment to ensure the appropriate response: should they court, fight or pursue a different action entirely? Previous work has focused on the significance of sensory cues detected by the male during these encounters; however, recent evidence highlights the importance of the male's own internal state in shaping his responses. Additionally, once triggered, courtship is not a rigid sequence of motor actions, but rather a finely tuned behavioural display that must continually update in response to sensory feedback. Here, we review recent findings highlighting how sensory information and internal states are integrated ensuring appropriate action selection, and how they sustain and fine-tune motor output. We further discuss recent advances in our understanding of species differences in sensory processing that may contribute to reproductive isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Rings
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SR, UK.
| | - Stephen F Goodwin
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SR, UK
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18
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Liu MZ, Vosshall LB. General Visual and Contingent Thermal Cues Interact to Elicit Attraction in Female Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes. Curr Biol 2019; 29:2250-2257.e4. [PMID: 31257144 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use multiple sensory modalities to hunt human hosts and obtain a blood meal for egg production. Attractive cues include carbon dioxide (CO2), a major component of exhaled breath [1, 2]; heat elevated above ambient temperature, signifying warm-blooded skin [3, 4]; and dark visual contrast [5, 6], proposed to bridge long-range olfactory and short-range thermal cues [7]. Any of these sensory cues in isolation is an incomplete signal of a human host, and so a mosquito must integrate multimodal sensory information before committing to approaching and biting a person [8]. Here, we study the interaction of visual cues, heat, and CO2 to investigate the contributions of human-associated stimuli to host-seeking decisions. We show that tethered flying mosquitoes strongly orient toward dark visual contrast, regardless of CO2 stimulation and internal host-seeking status. This suggests that attraction to visual contrast is general and not contingent on other host cues. In free-flight experiments with CO2, adding a dark contrasting visual cue to a warmed surface enhanced attraction. Moderate warmth became more attractive to mosquitoes, and mosquitoes aggregated on the cue at all non-noxious temperatures. Gr3 mutants, unable to detect CO2, were lured to the visual cue at ambient temperatures but fled and did not return when the surface was warmed to host-like temperatures. This suggests that attraction to thermal cues is contingent on the presence of the additional sensory cue CO2. Our results illustrate that mosquitoes integrate general attractive visual stimuli with context-dependent thermal stimuli to seek promising sites for blood feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Z Liu
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Leslie B Vosshall
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA; Kavli Neural Systems Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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19
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McKellar CE, Lillvis JL, Bath DE, Fitzgerald JE, Cannon JG, Simpson JH, Dickson BJ. Threshold-Based Ordering of Sequential Actions during Drosophila Courtship. Curr Biol 2019; 29:426-434.e6. [PMID: 30661796 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Goal-directed animal behaviors are typically composed of sequences of motor actions whose order and timing are critical for a successful outcome. Although numerous theoretical models for sequential action generation have been proposed, few have been supported by the identification of control neurons sufficient to elicit a sequence. Here, we identify a pair of descending neurons that coordinate a stereotyped sequence of engagement actions during Drosophila melanogaster male courtship behavior. These actions are initiated sequentially but persist cumulatively, a feature not explained by existing models of sequential behaviors. We find evidence consistent with a ramp-to-threshold mechanism, in which increasing neuronal activity elicits each action independently at successively higher activity thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E McKellar
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Joshua L Lillvis
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Daniel E Bath
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - James E Fitzgerald
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - John G Cannon
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Julie H Simpson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
| | - Barry J Dickson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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20
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Agrawal S, Dickinson MH. The effects of target contrast on Drosophila courtship. J Exp Biol 2019; 222:jeb.203414. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.203414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Many animals use visual cues like object shape, color, and motion to detect and pursue conspecific mates. Contrast is another possibly informative visual cue, but has not been studied in great detail. In this study, we presented male Drosophila melanogaster with small, fly-sized, moving objects painted either black, white, or grey to test if they use contrast cues to identify mates. We found that males frequently chased grey objects and rarely chased white or black objects. Although males started chasing black objects as often as grey objects, the resulting chases were much shorter. To test whether the attraction to grey objects was mediated via contrast, we fabricated black and grey behavioral chambers. However, wildtype males almost never chased any objects in these darkly colored chambers. To circumvent this limitation, we increased baseline levels of chasing by thermogenetically activating P1 neurons to promote courtship. Males with thermogenetically activated P1 neurons maintained a similar preference for grey objects despite elevated levels of courtship behavior. When placed in a black chamber, males with activated P1 neurons switched their preference and chased black objects more than grey objects. We also tested whether males use contrast cues to orient to particular parts of the female's body during courtship. When presented with moving objects painted two colors, males positioned themselves next to the grey half regardless of whether the other half was painted black or white. These results suggest that males can use contrast to recognize potential mates and to position themselves during courtship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sweta Agrawal
- Department of Biophysics and Physiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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21
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Abstract
How are complicated behavioral sequences executed? In this issue of Neuron, Duistermars et al. (2018) deconstruct neural control schemes underlying threats in flies, finding a small collection of neurons in which varying levels of activation lead to the performance of different movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon J Berman
- Department of Biology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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22
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Duistermars BJ, Pfeiffer BD, Hoopfer ED, Anderson DJ. A Brain Module for Scalable Control of Complex, Multi-motor Threat Displays. Neuron 2018; 100:1474-1490.e4. [PMID: 30415997 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Threat displays are a universal feature of agonistic interactions. Whether threats are part of a continuum of aggressive behaviors or separately controlled remains unclear. We analyze threats in Drosophila and show they are triggered by male cues and visual motion, and comprised of multiple motor elements that can be flexibly combined. We isolate a cluster of ∼3 neurons whose activity is necessary for threat displays but not for other aggressive behaviors, and whose artificial activation suffices to evoke naturalistic threats in solitary flies, suggesting that the neural control of threats is modular with respect to other aggressive behaviors. Artificially evoked threats suffice to repel opponents from a resource in the absence of contact aggression. Depending on its level of artificial activation, this neural threat module can evoke different motor elements in a threshold-dependent manner. Such scalable modules may represent fundamental "building blocks" of neural circuits that mediate complex multi-motor behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Duistermars
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Barret D Pfeiffer
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Eric D Hoopfer
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - David J Anderson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering 156-29, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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23
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Abstract
Animals rely on sensory cues to help them find suitable mates. Visual cues are particularly useful for locating mates during the day. A new study has revealed key visual neurons in male Drosophila used to identify and pursue potential mates.
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24
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Zhang SX, Miner LE, Boutros CL, Rogulja D, Crickmore MA. Motivation, Perception, and Chance Converge to Make a Binary Decision. Neuron 2018; 99:376-388.e6. [PMID: 29983326 PMCID: PMC7476641 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
We reveal a central role for chance neuronal events in the decision of a male fly to court, which can be modeled as a coin flip with odds set by motivational state. The decision is prompted by a tap of a female with the male's pheromone-receptor-containing foreleg. Each tap evokes competing excitation and inhibition onto P1 courtship command neurons. A motivating dopamine signal desensitizes P1 to the inhibition, increasing the fraction of taps that successfully initiate courtship. Once courtship has begun, the same dopamine tone potentiates recurrent excitation of P1, maintaining the courtship of highly motivated males for minutes and buffering against termination. Receptor diversity within P1 creates separate channels for tuning the propensities to initiate and sustain courtship toward appropriate targets. These findings establish a powerful invertebrate system for cue-triggered binary decisions and demonstrate that noise can be exploited by motivational systems to make behaviors scalable and flexible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen X Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lauren E Miner
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Christine L Boutros
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dragana Rogulja
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Michael A Crickmore
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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25
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Ribeiro IMA, Drews M, Bahl A, Machacek C, Borst A, Dickson BJ. Visual Projection Neurons Mediating Directed Courtship in Drosophila. Cell 2018; 174:607-621.e18. [PMID: 30033367 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Many animals rely on vision to detect, locate, and track moving objects. In Drosophila courtship, males primarily use visual cues to orient toward and follow females and to select the ipsilateral wing for courtship song. Here, we show that the LC10 visual projection neurons convey essential visual information during courtship. Males with LC10 neurons silenced are unable to orient toward or maintain proximity to the female and do not predominantly use the ipsilateral wing when singing. LC10 neurons preferentially respond to small moving objects using an antagonistic motion-based center-surround mechanism. Unilateral activation of LC10 neurons recapitulates the orienting and ipsilateral wing extension normally elicited by females, and the potency with which LC10 induces wing extension is enhanced in a state of courtship arousal controlled by male-specific P1 neurons. These data suggest that LC10 is a major pathway relaying visual input to the courtship circuits in the male brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês M A Ribeiro
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Max Plank Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Institute of Molecular Pathology, Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Drews
- Max Plank Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Armin Bahl
- Max Plank Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christian Machacek
- Institute of Molecular Pathology, Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Borst
- Max Plank Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Barry J Dickson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Institute of Molecular Pathology, Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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26
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Evolution of a central neural circuit underlies Drosophila mate preferences. Nature 2018; 559:564-569. [PMID: 29995860 PMCID: PMC6276375 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0322-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Courtship rituals serve to reinforce reproductive barriers between closely related species. Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans exhibit reproductive isolation due, in part, to the fact that D. melanogaster females produce 7,11-heptacosadiene (7,11-HD), a pheromone that promotes courtship in D. melanogaster males but suppresses courtship in D. simulans males. Here we compare pheromone-processing pathways in D. melanogaster and D. simulans males to define how these sister species endow 7,11-HD with the opposite behavioral valence to underlie species discrimination. We show that males of both species detect 7,11-HD using the homologous peripheral sensory neurons but this signal is differentially propagated to the P1 neurons that control courtship behavior. A change in the balance of excitation and inhibition onto courtship-promoting neurons transforms an excitatory pheromonal cue in D. melanogaster into an inhibitory cue in D. simulans. Our results reveal how species-specific pheromone responses can emerge from conservation of peripheral detection mechanisms and diversification of central circuitry and illustrate how flexible nodes in neural circuits can contribute to behavioral evolution.
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27
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Sayin S, Boehm AC, Kobler JM, De Backer JF, Grunwald Kadow IC. Internal State Dependent Odor Processing and Perception-The Role of Neuromodulation in the Fly Olfactory System. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:11. [PMID: 29440990 PMCID: PMC5797598 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals rely heavily on their sense of olfaction to perform various vital interactions with an ever-in-flux environment. The turbulent and combinatorial nature of air-borne odorant cues demands the employment of various coding strategies, which allow the animal to attune to its internal needs and past or present experiences. Furthermore, these internal needs can be dependent on internal states such as hunger, reproductive state and sickness. Neuromodulation is a key component providing flexibility under such conditions. Understanding the contributions of neuromodulation, such as sensory neuron sensitization and choice bias requires manipulation of neuronal activity on a local and global scale. With Drosophila's genetic toolset, these manipulations are feasible and even allow a detailed look on the functional role of classical neuromodulators such as dopamine, octopamine and neuropeptides. The past years unraveled various mechanisms adapting chemosensory processing and perception to internal states such as hunger and reproductive state. However, future research should also investigate the mechanisms underlying other internal states including the modulatory influence of endogenous microbiota on Drosophila behavior. Furthermore, sickness induced by pathogenic infection could lead to novel insights as to the neuromodulators of circuits that integrate such a negative postingestive signal within the circuits governing olfactory behavior and learning. The enriched emporium of tools Drosophila provides will help to build a concrete picture of the influence of neuromodulation on olfaction and metabolism, adaptive behavior and our overall understanding of how a brain works.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sercan Sayin
- Neural Circuits and Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ariane C Boehm
- Neural Circuits and Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.,Chemosensory Coding, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Johanna M Kobler
- Neural Circuits and Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.,Chemosensory Coding, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jean-François De Backer
- Neural Circuits and Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ilona C Grunwald Kadow
- Neural Circuits and Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.,Chemosensory Coding, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
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28
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Ellendersen BE, von Philipsborn AC. Neuronal modulation of D. melanogaster sexual behaviour. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2017; 24:21-28. [PMID: 29208219 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster sexual behaviour relies on well-studied genetically determined neuronal circuits. At the same time, it can be flexible and is modulated by multiple external and internal factors. This review focuses on how physiological state, behavioural context and social experience impact sexual circuits in the two sexes. We discuss how females tune receptivity and other behaviours depending on mating status and how males adjust courtship intensity based on sexual satiety, age and the conflicting drive for aggression. Neuronal mechanisms for behavioural modulation include changes in sensory and central processing. Activity of modulatory neurons can enhance, suppress or reverse the behavioural response to sensory cues. In summary, fly sexual behaviour is an excellent model to study mechanisms of neuromodulation of complex innate behaviour on the circuit level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárður Eyjólfsson Ellendersen
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Aarhus University, Ole Worms Alle 3, Building 1170, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Anne C von Philipsborn
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Aarhus University, Ole Worms Alle 3, Building 1170, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
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29
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Dewar ADM, Wystrach A, Philippides A, Graham P. Neural coding in the visual system of Drosophila melanogaster: How do small neural populations support visually guided behaviours? PLoS Comput Biol 2017; 13:e1005735. [PMID: 29016606 PMCID: PMC5654266 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
All organisms wishing to survive and reproduce must be able to respond adaptively to a complex, changing world. Yet the computational power available is constrained by biology and evolution, favouring mechanisms that are parsimonious yet robust. Here we investigate the information carried in small populations of visually responsive neurons in Drosophila melanogaster. These so-called 'ring neurons', projecting to the ellipsoid body of the central complex, are reported to be necessary for complex visual tasks such as pattern recognition and visual navigation. Recently the receptive fields of these neurons have been mapped, allowing us to investigate how well they can support such behaviours. For instance, in a simulation of classic pattern discrimination experiments, we show that the pattern of output from the ring neurons matches observed fly behaviour. However, performance of the neurons (as with flies) is not perfect and can be easily improved with the addition of extra neurons, suggesting the neurons' receptive fields are not optimised for recognising abstract shapes, a conclusion which casts doubt on cognitive explanations of fly behaviour in pattern recognition assays. Using artificial neural networks, we then assess how easy it is to decode more general information about stimulus shape from the ring neuron population codes. We show that these neurons are well suited for encoding information about size, position and orientation, which are more relevant behavioural parameters for a fly than abstract pattern properties. This leads us to suggest that in order to understand the properties of neural systems, one must consider how perceptual circuits put information at the service of behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex D. M. Dewar
- Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Antoine Wystrach
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Andrew Philippides
- Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Graham
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom
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30
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Jezovit JA, Levine JD, Schneider J. Phylogeny, environment and sexual communication across the Drosophila genus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:42-52. [PMID: 28057827 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.143008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Social behaviour emerges from the local environment but is constrained by the animal's life history and its evolutionary lineage. In this perspective, we consider the genus Drosophila and provide an overview of how these constraints can shape how individuals interact. Our focus is restricted to visual and chemical signals and how their use varies across species during courtship - currently the only social behaviour well-studied across many Drosophila species. We broadly categorize species into four climatic groups - cosmopolitan, tropical, temperate and arid - which serve as discussion points as we review comparative behavioural and physiological studies and relate them to the abiotic conditions of a species environment. We discuss how the physiological and behavioural differences among many fly species may reflect life history differences as much as, or even more than, differences in phylogeny. This perspective serves not only to summarize what has been studied across drosophilids, but also to identify questions and outline gaps in the literature worth pursuing for progressing the understanding of behavioural evolution in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Jezovit
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L1C6
| | - Joel D Levine
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L1C6
| | - Jonathan Schneider
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L1C6
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31
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Gupta T, Morgan HR, Andrews JC, Brewer ER, Certel SJ. Methyl-CpG binding domain proteins inhibit interspecies courtship and promote aggression in Drosophila. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5420. [PMID: 28710457 PMCID: PMC5511146 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05844-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive isolation and speciation are driven by the convergence of environmental and genetic variation. The integration of these variation sources is thought to occur through epigenetic marks including DNA methylation. Proteins containing a methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) bind methylated DNA and interpret epigenetic marks, providing a dynamic yet evolutionarily adapted cellular output. Here, we report the Drosophila MBD-containing proteins, dMBD-R2 and dMBD2/3, contribute to reproductive isolation and survival behavioral strategies. Drosophila melanogaster males with a reduction in dMBD-R2 specifically in octopamine (OA) neurons exhibit courtship toward divergent interspecies D. virilis and D. yakuba females and a decrease in conspecific mating success. Conspecific male-male courtship is increased between dMBD-R2-deficient males while aggression is reduced. These changes in adaptive behavior are separable as males with a hypermethylated OA neuronal genome exhibited a decrease in aggression without altering male-male courtship. These results suggest Drosophila MBD-containing proteins are required within the OA neural circuitry to inhibit interspecies and conspecific male-male courtship and indicate that the genetically hard-wired neural mechanisms enforcing behavioral reproductive isolation include the interpretation of the epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarun Gupta
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
| | - Hannah R Morgan
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
| | - Jonathan C Andrews
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
| | - Edmond R Brewer
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
| | - Sarah J Certel
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States. .,Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States.
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32
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Signor SA, Abbasi M, Marjoram P, Nuzhdin SV. Social effects for locomotion vary between environments in Drosophila melanogaster females. Evolution 2017; 71:1765-1775. [PMID: 28489252 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite strong purifying or directional selection, variation is ubiquitous in populations. One mechanism for the maintenance of variation is indirect genetic effects (IGEs), as the fitness of a given genotype will depend somewhat on the genes of its social partners. IGEs describe the effect of genes in social partners on the expression of the phenotype of a focal individual. Here, we ask what effect IGEs, and variation in IGEs between abiotic environments, has on locomotion in Drosophila. This trait is known to be subject to intralocus sexually antagonistic selection. We estimate the coefficient of interaction, Ψ, using six inbred lines of Drosophila. We found that Ψ varied between abiotic environments, and that it may vary across among male genotypes in an abiotic environment specific manner. We also found evidence that social effects of males alter the value of a sexually dimorphic trait in females, highlighting an interesting avenue for future research into sexual antagonism. We conclude that IGEs are an important component of social and sexual interactions and that they vary between individuals and abiotic environments in complex ways, with the potential to promote the maintenance of phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Signor
- Program in Molecular and Computational Biology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089
| | - Mohammad Abbasi
- Graduate Program in Computational Biology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089
| | - Paul Marjoram
- Program in Molecular and Computational Biology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089
| | - Sergey V Nuzhdin
- Program in Molecular and Computational Biology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089
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33
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Chen SL, Chen YH, Wang CC, Yu YW, Tsai YC, Hsu HW, Wu CL, Wang PY, Chen LC, Lan TH, Fu TF. Active and passive sexual roles that arise in Drosophila male-male courtship are modulated by dopamine levels in PPL2ab neurons. Sci Rep 2017; 7:44595. [PMID: 28294190 PMCID: PMC5353583 DOI: 10.1038/srep44595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurology of male sexuality has been poorly studied owing to difficulties in studying brain circuitry in humans. Dopamine (DA) is essential for both physiological and behavioural responses, including the regulation of sexuality. Previous studies have revealed that alterations in DA synthesis in dopaminergic neurons can induce male-male courtship behaviour, while increasing DA levels in the protocerebral posteriolateral dopaminergic cluster neuron 2ab (PPL2ab) may enhance the intensity of male courtship sustainment in Drosophila. Here we report that changes in the ability of the PPL2ab in the central nervous system (CNS) to produce DA strongly impact male-male courtship in D. melanogaster. Intriguingly, the DA-synthesizing abilities of these neurons appear to affect both the courting activities displayed by male flies and the sex appeal of male flies for other male flies. Moreover, the observed male-male courtship is triggered primarily by target motion, yet chemical cues can replace visual input under dark conditions. This is interesting evidence that courtship responses in male individuals are controlled by PPL2ab neurons in the CNS. Our study provides insight for subsequent studies focusing on sexual circuit modulation by PPL2ab neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiu-Ling Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chi Nan University, 54561 Nantou, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hui Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chi Nan University, 54561 Nantou, Taiwan
| | - Chuan-Chan Wang
- Department of Life Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, 24205 New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yhu-Wei Yu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chi Nan University, 54561 Nantou, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Tsai
- Department of Life Science and Life Science Center, Tunghai University, 40704 Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Wen Hsu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chi Nan University, 54561 Nantou, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Lin Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 33302 Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Neurology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 33305 Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yu Wang
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 10051 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Lien-Cheng Chen
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, 71703 Tainan, Taiwan.,School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, 11031 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tsuo-Hung Lan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, 11221 Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 40705 Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tsai-Feng Fu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chi Nan University, 54561 Nantou, Taiwan
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34
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Schumacher S, Burt de Perera T, von der Emde G. Electrosensory capture during multisensory discrimination of nearby objects in the weakly electric fish Gnathonemus petersii. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43665. [PMID: 28257127 PMCID: PMC5363222 DOI: 10.1038/srep43665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal multisensory systems are able to cope with discrepancies in information provided by individual senses by integrating information using a weighted average of the sensory inputs. Such sensory weighting often leads to a dominance of a certain sense during particular tasks and conditions, also called sensory capture. Here we investigated the interaction of vision and active electrolocation during object discrimination in the weakly electric fish Gnathonemus petersii. Fish were trained to discriminate between two objects using both senses and were subsequently tested using either only vision or only the active electric sense. We found that at short range the electric sense dominates over vision, leading to a decreased ability to discriminate between objects visually when vision and electrolocation provide conflicting information. In line with visual capture in humans, we call this dominance of the electric sense electrosensory capture. Further, our results suggest that the fish are able to exploit the advantages of multiple senses using vision and electrolocation redundantly, synergistically and complementarily. Together our results show that by providing similar information about the environment on different spatial scales, vision and the electric sense of G. petersii are well attuned to each other producing a robust and flexible percept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Schumacher
- Institut für Zoologie, Universität Bonn, Endenicher Allee 11-13, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Theresa Burt de Perera
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3PS, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Gerhard von der Emde
- Institut für Zoologie, Universität Bonn, Endenicher Allee 11-13, 53115, Bonn, Germany
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35
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Higuchi T, Kohatsu S, Yamamoto D. Quantitative analysis of visually induced courtship elements in Drosophila subobscura. J Neurogenet 2017; 31:49-57. [PMID: 28552034 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2017.1290613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
We developed a new paradigm for quantitative analysis of courtship behavior in flies, Fly Motion-detector with an Actuator-Coupled Stimulator (FlyMacs), in which the stimulation of a fly with a moving visual target and recording of induced behaviors are automated under computer control. We employ FlyMacs for the identification of motion features that trigger specific courtship elements in Drosophila subobscura, whose mating is suggested to be strongly vision dependent. A female abdomen attached to the actuator, when moved in an appropriate pattern, evokes in the test male tapping-like foreleg motions, midleg swing and proboscis extension, which are considered to be elementary actions in male courtship behavior. Tapping is primarily induced when the target is moving, whereas midleg swing and proboscis extension are most frequently observed after the target stops moving. In contrast to midleg swing, which tends to occur immediately after target cessation (∼3000 ms), the incidence of proboscis extension gradually increases with time after target cessation, reaching a plateau at 3000 ms. The results suggest that tapping, midleg swing and proboscis extension are each induced by different movement features of the visual target. These findings do not support the view that a single key stimulus induces the entire courtship ritual. Rather, courtship behaviors in D. subobscura are correlated with movement and position of the target, which suggests that D. subobscura uses sensory information to pattern its courtship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Higuchi
- a Division of Neurogenetics , Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences , Sendai , Japan
| | - Soh Kohatsu
- a Division of Neurogenetics , Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences , Sendai , Japan
| | - Daisuke Yamamoto
- a Division of Neurogenetics , Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences , Sendai , Japan
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36
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Keleş MF, Frye MA. Object-Detecting Neurons in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2017; 27:680-687. [PMID: 28190726 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Many animals rely on vision to detect objects such as conspecifics, predators, and prey. Hypercomplex cells found in feline cortex and small target motion detectors found in dragonfly and hoverfly optic lobes demonstrate robust tuning for small objects, with weak or no response to larger objects or movement of the visual panorama [1-3]. However, the relationship among anatomical, molecular, and functional properties of object detection circuitry is not understood. Here we characterize a specialized object detector in Drosophila, the lobula columnar neuron LC11 [4]. By imaging calcium dynamics with two-photon excitation microscopy, we show that LC11 responds to the omni-directional movement of a small object darker than the background, with little or no responses to static flicker, vertically elongated bars, or panoramic gratings. LC11 dendrites innervate multiple layers of the lobula, and each dendrite spans enough columns to sample 75° of visual space, yet the area that evokes calcium responses is only 20° wide and shows robust responses to a 2.2° object spanning less than half of one facet of the compound eye. The dendrites of neighboring LC11s encode object motion retinotopically, but the axon terminals fuse into a glomerular structure in the central brain where retinotopy is lost. Blocking inhibitory ionic currents abolishes small object sensitivity and facilitates responses to elongated bars and gratings. Our results reveal high-acuity object motion detection in the Drosophila optic lobe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet F Keleş
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Mark A Frye
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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37
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Robie AA, Seagraves KM, Egnor SER, Branson K. Machine vision methods for analyzing social interactions. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:25-34. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.142281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Recent developments in machine vision methods for automatic, quantitative analysis of social behavior have immensely improved both the scale and level of resolution with which we can dissect interactions between members of the same species. In this paper, we review these methods, with a particular focus on how biologists can apply them to their own work. We discuss several components of machine vision-based analyses: methods to record high-quality video for automated analyses, video-based tracking algorithms for estimating the positions of interacting animals, and machine learning methods for recognizing patterns of interactions. These methods are extremely general in their applicability, and we review a subset of successful applications of them to biological questions in several model systems with very different types of social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice A. Robie
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Kelly M. Seagraves
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - S. E. Roian Egnor
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Kristin Branson
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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38
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Ramdya P, Schneider J, Levine JD. The neurogenetics of group behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:35-41. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.141457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Organisms rarely act in isolation. Their decisions and movements are often heavily influenced by direct and indirect interactions with conspecifics. For example, we each represent a single node within a social network of family and friends, and an even larger network of strangers. This group membership can affect our opinions and actions. Similarly, when in a crowd, we often coordinate our movements with others like fish in a school, or birds in a flock. Contributions of the group to individual behaviors are observed across a wide variety of taxa but their biological mechanisms remain largely unknown. With the advent of powerful computational tools as well as the unparalleled genetic accessibility and surprisingly rich social life of Drosophila melanogaster, researchers now have a unique opportunity to investigate molecular and neuronal determinants of group behavior. Conserved mechanisms and/or selective pressures in D. melanogaster can likely inform a much wider phylogenetic scale. Here, we highlight two examples to illustrate how quantitative and genetic tools can be combined to uncover mechanisms of two group behaviors in D. melanogaster: social network formation and collective behavior. Lastly, we discuss future challenges towards a full understanding how coordinated brain activity across many individuals gives rise to the behavioral patterns of animal societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavan Ramdya
- Department of Biology and Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91106, USA
| | - Jonathan Schneider
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, CanadaL5L1C6
| | - Joel D. Levine
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, CanadaL5L1C6
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39
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Yamamoto D, Kohatsu S. What does the fruitless gene tell us about nature vs. nurture in the sex life of Drosophila? Fly (Austin) 2016; 11:139-147. [PMID: 27880074 DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2016.1263778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The fruitless (fru) gene in Drosophila has been proposed to play a master regulator role in the formation of neural circuitries for male courtship behavior, which is typically considered to be an innate behavior composed of a fixed action pattern as generated by the central pattern generator. However, recent studies have shed light on experience-dependent changes and sensory-input-guided plasticity in courtship behavior. For example, enhanced male-male courtship, a fru mutant "hallmark," disappears when fru-mutant males are raised in isolation. The fact that neural fru expression is induced by neural activities in the adult invites the supposition that Fru as a chromatin regulator mediates experience-dependent epigenetic modification, which underlies the neural and behavioral plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Yamamoto
- a Division of Neurogenetics , Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences , Seidai , Japan
| | - Soh Kohatsu
- a Division of Neurogenetics , Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences , Seidai , Japan
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40
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Affiliation(s)
- S.E. Roian Egnor
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia 20147; ,
| | - Kristin Branson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia 20147; ,
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41
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Auer TO, Benton R. Sexual circuitry in Drosophila. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2016; 38:18-26. [PMID: 26851712 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The sexual behavior of Drosophila melanogaster is an outstanding paradigm to understand the molecular and neuronal basis of sophisticated animal actions. We discuss recent advances in our knowledge of the genetic hardwiring of the underlying neuronal circuitry, and how pertinent sensory cues are differentially detected and integrated in the male and female brain. We also consider how experience influences these circuits over short timescales, and the evolution of these pathways over longer timescales to endow species-specific sexual displays and responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas O Auer
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Richard Benton
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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42
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Coen P, Murthy M. Singing on the fly: sensorimotor integration and acoustic communication in Drosophila. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2016; 38:38-45. [PMID: 26874218 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The capacity to communicate via acoustic signals is prevalent across the animal kingdom, from insects to humans. What are the neural circuit mechanisms that underlie this ability? New methods for behavioral analysis along with an unparalleled genetic toolkit have recently opened up studies of acoustic communication in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Its nervous system comprises roughly 100,000 neurons, yet flies are able to both produce and process time-varying sounds during courtship. Just as with more complex animals, sensory feedback plays an important role in shaping communication between the sexes. Here, we review recent work in Drosophila that has laid the foundation for solving the mechanisms by which sensory information dynamically modulates behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Coen
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Mala Murthy
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, United States.
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43
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Can You Hear Me Now? Neuron 2016; 89:425-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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44
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Dewar ADM, Wystrach A, Graham P, Philippides A. Navigation-specific neural coding in the visual system of Drosophila. Biosystems 2015; 136:120-7. [PMID: 26310914 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2015] [Revised: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 07/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster are a good system in which to understand the minimal requirements for widespread visually guided behaviours such as navigation, due to their small brains (adults possess only 100,000 neurons) and the availability of neurogenetic techniques which allow the identification of task-specific cell types. Recently published data describe the receptive fields for two classes of visually responsive neurons (R2 and R3/R4d ring neurons in the central complex) that are essential for visual tasks such as orientation memory for salient objects and simple pattern discriminations. What is interesting is that these cells have very large receptive fields and are very small in number, suggesting that each sub-population of cells might be a bottleneck in the processing of visual information for a specific behaviour, as each subset of cells effectively condenses information from approximately 3000 visual receptors in the eye, to fewer than 50 neurons in total. It has recently been shown how R1 ring neurons, which receive input from the same areas as the R2 and R3/R4d cells, are necessary for place learning in Drosophila. However, how R1 neurons enable place learning is unknown. By examining the information provided by different populations of hypothetical visual neurons in simulations of experimental arenas, we show that neurons with ring neuron-like receptive fields are sufficient for defining a location visually. In this way we provide a link between the type of information conveyed by ring neurons and the behaviour they support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex D M Dewar
- School of Life Sciences, John Maynard Smith Building, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9QJ, UK.
| | - Antoine Wystrach
- School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Appleton Tower, 11 Crichton Street, Edinburgh EH8 9LE, UK
| | - Paul Graham
- School of Life Sciences, John Maynard Smith Building, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9QJ, UK
| | - Andrew Philippides
- Department of Informatics, Chichester I, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QJ, UK.
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45
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Clowney EJ, Iguchi S, Bussell JJ, Scheer E, Ruta V. Multimodal Chemosensory Circuits Controlling Male Courtship in Drosophila. Neuron 2015; 87:1036-49. [PMID: 26279475 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Revised: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the animal kingdom, internal states generate long-lasting and self-perpetuating chains of behavior. In Drosophila, males instinctively pursue females with a lengthy and elaborate courtship ritual triggered by activation of sexually dimorphic P1 interneurons. Gustatory pheromones are thought to activate P1 neurons but the circuit mechanisms that dictate their sensory responses to gate entry into courtship remain unknown. Here, we use circuit mapping and in vivo functional imaging techniques to trace gustatory and olfactory pheromone circuits to their point of convergence onto P1 neurons and reveal how their combined input underlies selective tuning to appropriate sexual partners. We identify inhibition, even in response to courtship-promoting pheromones, as a key circuit element that tunes and tempers P1 neuron activity. Our results suggest a circuit mechanism in which balanced excitation and inhibition underlie discrimination of prospective mates and stringently regulate the transition to courtship in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Josephine Clowney
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Shinya Iguchi
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jennifer J Bussell
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Elias Scheer
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Vanessa Ruta
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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46
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Cellular evidence for efference copy in Drosophila visuomotor processing. Nat Neurosci 2015; 18:1247-55. [PMID: 26237362 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Each time a locomoting fly turns, the visual image sweeps over the retina and generates a motion stimulus. Classic behavioral experiments suggested that flies use active neural-circuit mechanisms to suppress the perception of self-generated visual motion during intended turns. Direct electrophysiological evidence, however, has been lacking. We found that visual neurons in Drosophila receive motor-related inputs during rapid flight turns. These inputs arrived with a sign and latency appropriate for suppressing each targeted cell's visual response to the turn. Precise measurements of behavioral and neuronal response latencies supported the idea that motor-related inputs to optic flow-processing cells represent internal predictions of the expected visual drive induced by voluntary turns. Motor-related inputs to small object-selective visual neurons could reflect either proprioceptive feedback from the turn or internally generated signals. Our results in Drosophila echo the suppression of visual perception during rapid eye movements in primates, demonstrating common functional principles of sensorimotor processing across phyla.
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47
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Ratliff EP, Mauntz RE, Kotzebue RW, Gonzalez A, Achal M, Barekat A, Finley KA, Sparhawk JM, Robinson JE, Herr DR, Harris GL, Joiner WJ, Finley KD. Aging and Autophagic Function Influences the Progressive Decline of Adult Drosophila Behaviors. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132768. [PMID: 26182057 PMCID: PMC4504520 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple neurological disorders are characterized by the abnormal accumulation of protein aggregates and the progressive impairment of complex behaviors. Our Drosophila studies demonstrate that middle-aged wild-type flies (WT, ~4-weeks) exhibit a marked accumulation of neural aggregates that is commensurate with the decline of the autophagy pathway. However, enhancing autophagy via neuronal over-expression of Atg8a (Atg8a-OE) reduces the age-dependent accumulation of aggregates. Here we assess basal locomotor activity profiles for single- and group-housed male and female WT flies and observed that only modest behavioral changes occurred by 4-weeks of age, with the noted exception of group-housed male flies. Male flies in same-sex social groups exhibit a progressive increase in nighttime activity. Infrared videos show aged group-housed males (4-weeks) are engaged in extensive bouts of courtship during periods of darkness, which is partly repressed during lighted conditions. Together, these nighttime courtship behaviors were nearly absent in young WT flies and aged Atg8a-OE flies. Previous studies have indicated a regulatory role for olfaction in male courtship partner choice. Coincidently, the mRNA expression profiles of several olfactory genes decline with age in WT flies; however, they are maintained in age-matched Atg8a-OE flies. Together, these results suggest that middle-aged male flies develop impairments in olfaction, which could contribute to the dysregulation of courtship behaviors during dark time periods. Combined, our results demonstrate that as Drosophila age, they develop early behavior defects that are coordinate with protein aggregate accumulation in the nervous system. In addition, the nighttime activity behavior is preserved when neuronal autophagy is maintained (Atg8a-OE flies). Thus, environmental or genetic factors that modify autophagic capacity could have a positive impact on neuronal aging and complex behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric P. Ratliff
- Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Expression Drug Designs, LLC, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Ruth E. Mauntz
- Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Expression Drug Designs, LLC, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Roxanne W. Kotzebue
- Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Expression Drug Designs, LLC, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Arysa Gonzalez
- Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Expression Drug Designs, LLC, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Madhulika Achal
- Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Ayeh Barekat
- Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Kaelyn A. Finley
- Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Expression Drug Designs, LLC, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Jonathan M. Sparhawk
- Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - James E. Robinson
- Departments of Neurosciences and Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Deron R. Herr
- Expression Drug Designs, LLC, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Greg L. Harris
- Expression Drug Designs, LLC, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - William J. Joiner
- Departments of Neurosciences and Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Kim D. Finley
- Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Expression Drug Designs, LLC, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Shankar S, Chua JY, Tan KJ, Calvert MEK, Weng R, Ng WC, Mori K, Yew JY. The neuropeptide tachykinin is essential for pheromone detection in a gustatory neural circuit. eLife 2015; 4:e06914. [PMID: 26083710 PMCID: PMC4491540 DOI: 10.7554/elife.06914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gustatory pheromones play an essential role in shaping the behavior of many organisms. However, little is known about the processing of taste pheromones in higher order brain centers. Here, we describe a male-specific gustatory circuit in Drosophila that underlies the detection of the anti-aphrodisiac pheromone (3R,11Z,19Z)-3-acetoxy-11,19-octacosadien-1-ol (CH503). Using behavioral analysis, genetic manipulation, and live calcium imaging, we show that Gr68a-expressing neurons on the forelegs of male flies exhibit a sexually dimorphic physiological response to the pheromone and relay information to the central brain via peptidergic neurons. The release of tachykinin from 8 to 10 cells within the subesophageal zone is required for the pheromone-triggered courtship suppression. Taken together, this work describes a neuropeptide-modulated central brain circuit that underlies the programmed behavioral response to a gustatory sex pheromone. These results will allow further examination of the molecular basis by which innate behaviors are modulated by gustatory cues and physiological state.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jia Yi Chua
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kah Junn Tan
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Ruifen Weng
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wan Chin Ng
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kenji Mori
- Photosensitive Materials Research Center, Toyo Gosei Co., Ltd, Chiba, Japan
| | - Joanne Y Yew
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Singapore, Singapore
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Visually induced initiation of Drosophila innate courtship-like following pursuit is mediated by central excitatory state. Nat Commun 2015; 6:6457. [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
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