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Chaturvedi R, Emery P. Fly into tranquility: GABA's role in Drosophila sleep. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 64:101219. [PMID: 38848811 PMCID: PMC11290982 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2024.101219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Sleep is conserved across the animal kingdom, and Drosophila melanogaster is a prime model to understand its intricate circadian and homeostatic control. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter, plays a central role in sleep. This review delves into GABA's complex mechanisms of actions within Drosophila's sleep-regulating neural networks. We discuss how GABA promotes sleep, both by inhibiting circadian arousal neurons and by being a key neurotransmitter in sleep homeostatic circuits. GABA's impact on sleep is modulated by glia through astrocytic GABA recapture and metabolism. Interestingly, GABA can be coexpressed with other neurotransmitters in sleep-regulating neurons, which likely contributes to context-based sleep plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratna Chaturvedi
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Patrick Emery
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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2
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Zhang SX, Glantz EH, Miner LE, Rogulja D, Crickmore MA. Where does mating drive come from? EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57771. [PMID: 37530645 PMCID: PMC10561160 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Comment on "Asexuality in Drosophila juvenile males is organizational and independent of juvenile hormone" by Ji et al.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen X Zhang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Ethan H Glantz
- Department of NeurobiologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Lauren E Miner
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | | | - Michael A Crickmore
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
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3
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He L, Wu B, Shi J, Du J, Zhao Z. Regulation of feeding and energy homeostasis by clock-mediated Gart in Drosophila. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112912. [PMID: 37531254 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Feeding behavior is essential for growth and survival of animals; however, relatively little is known about its intrinsic mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate that Gart is expressed in the glia, fat body, and gut and positively regulates feeding behavior via cooperation and coordination. Gart in the gut is crucial for maintaining endogenous feeding rhythms and food intake, while Gart in the glia and fat body regulates energy homeostasis between synthesis and metabolism. These roles of Gart further impact Drosophila lifespan. Importantly, Gart expression is directly regulated by the CLOCK/CYCLE heterodimer via canonical E-box, in which the CLOCKs (CLKs) in the glia, fat body, and gut positively regulate Gart of peripheral tissues, while the core CLK in brain negatively controls Gart of peripheral tissues. This study provides insight into the complex and subtle regulatory mechanisms of feeding and lifespan extension in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei He
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R. China
| | - Binbin Wu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Jian Shi
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R. China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R. China
| | - Zhangwu Zhao
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R. China; College of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, P.R. China.
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4
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Elya C, Lavrentovich D, Lee E, Pasadyn C, Duval J, Basak M, Saykina V, de Bivort B. Neural mechanisms of parasite-induced summiting behavior in 'zombie' Drosophila. eLife 2023; 12:e85410. [PMID: 37184212 PMCID: PMC10259475 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
For at least two centuries, scientists have been enthralled by the "zombie" behaviors induced by mind-controlling parasites. Despite this interest, the mechanistic bases of these uncanny processes have remained mostly a mystery. Here, we leverage the Entomophthora muscae-Drosophila melanogaster "zombie fly" system to reveal the mechanistic underpinnings of summit disease, a manipulated behavior evoked by many fungal parasites. Using a high-throughput approach to measure summiting, we discovered that summiting behavior is characterized by a burst of locomotion and requires the host circadian and neurosecretory systems, specifically DN1p circadian neurons, pars intercerebralis to corpora allata projecting (PI-CA) neurons and corpora allata (CA), the latter being solely responsible for juvenile hormone (JH) synthesis and release. Using a machine learning classifier to identify summiting animals in real time, we observed that PI-CA neurons and CA appeared intact in summiting animals, despite invasion of adjacent regions of the "zombie fly" brain by E. muscae cells and extensive host tissue damage in the body cavity. The blood-brain barrier of flies late in their infection was significantly permeabilized, suggesting that factors in the hemolymph may have greater access to the central nervous system during summiting. Metabolomic analysis of hemolymph from summiting flies revealed differential abundance of several compounds compared to non-summiting flies. Transfusing the hemolymph of summiting flies into non-summiting recipients induced a burst of locomotion, demonstrating that factor(s) in the hemolymph likely cause summiting behavior. Altogether, our work reveals a neuro-mechanistic model for summiting wherein fungal cells perturb the fly's hemolymph, activating a neurohormonal pathway linking clock neurons to juvenile hormone production in the CA, ultimately inducing locomotor activity in their host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn Elya
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Danylo Lavrentovich
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Emily Lee
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Cassandra Pasadyn
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Jasper Duval
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Maya Basak
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Valerie Saykina
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Benjamin de Bivort
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
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5
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Jones JD, Holder BL, Eiken KR, Vogt A, Velarde AI, Elder AJ, McEllin JA, Dissel S. Regulation of sleep by cholinergic neurons located outside the central brain in Drosophila. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002012. [PMID: 36862736 PMCID: PMC10013921 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep is a complex and plastic behavior regulated by multiple brain regions and influenced by numerous internal and external stimuli. Thus, to fully uncover the function(s) of sleep, cellular resolution of sleep-regulating neurons needs to be achieved. Doing so will help to unequivocally assign a role or function to a given neuron or group of neurons in sleep behavior. In the Drosophila brain, neurons projecting to the dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB) have emerged as a key sleep-regulating area. To dissect the contribution of individual dFB neurons to sleep, we undertook an intersectional Split-GAL4 genetic screen focusing on cells contained within the 23E10-GAL4 driver, the most widely used tool to manipulate dFB neurons. In this study, we demonstrate that 23E10-GAL4 expresses in neurons outside the dFB and in the fly equivalent of the spinal cord, the ventral nerve cord (VNC). Furthermore, we show that 2 VNC cholinergic neurons strongly contribute to the sleep-promoting capacity of the 23E10-GAL4 driver under baseline conditions. However, in contrast to other 23E10-GAL4 neurons, silencing these VNC cells does not block sleep homeostasis. Thus, our data demonstrate that the 23E10-GAL4 driver contains at least 2 different types of sleep-regulating neurons controlling distinct aspects of sleep behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D. Jones
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Brandon L. Holder
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Kiran R. Eiken
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Alex Vogt
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Adriana I. Velarde
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Alexandra J. Elder
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jennifer A. McEllin
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Stephane Dissel
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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6
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Li Y, Haynes P, Zhang SL, Yue Z, Sehgal A. Ecdysone acts through cortex glia to regulate sleep in Drosophila. eLife 2023; 12:e81723. [PMID: 36719183 PMCID: PMC9928426 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormones are attractive candidates for transmitting long-range signals to affect behavior. These lipid-soluble molecules derived from dietary cholesterol easily penetrate the brain and act through nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs) that function as transcription factors. To determine the extent to which NHRs affect sleep:wake cycles, we knocked down each of the 18 highly conserved NHRs found in Drosophila adults and report that the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and its direct downstream NHR Eip75B (E75) act in glia to regulate the rhythm and amount of sleep. Given that ecdysone synthesis genes have little to no expression in the fly brain, ecdysone appears to act as a long-distance signal and our data suggest that it enters the brain more at night. Anti-EcR staining localizes to the cortex glia in the brain and functional screening of glial subtypes revealed that EcR functions in adult cortex glia to affect sleep. Cortex glia are implicated in lipid metabolism, which appears to be relevant for actions of ecdysone as ecdysone treatment mobilizes lipid droplets (LDs), and knockdown of glial EcR results in more LDs. In addition, sleep-promoting effects of exogenous ecdysone are diminished in lsd-2 mutant flies, which are lean and deficient in lipid accumulation. We propose that ecdysone is a systemic secreted factor that modulates sleep by stimulating lipid metabolism in cortex glia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Li
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Department of Biology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Paula Haynes
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Shirley L Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Zhifeng Yue
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Amita Sehgal
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
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7
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Pechuk V, Goldman G, Salzberg Y, Chaubey AH, Bola RA, Hoffman JR, Endreson ML, Miller RM, Reger NJ, Portman DS, Ferkey DM, Schneidman E, Oren-Suissa M. Reprogramming the topology of the nociceptive circuit in C. elegans reshapes sexual behavior. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4372-4385.e7. [PMID: 36075218 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
The effect of the detailed connectivity of a neural circuit on its function and the resulting behavior of the organism is a key question in many neural systems. Here, we study the circuit for nociception in C. elegans, which is composed of the same neurons in the two sexes that are wired differently. We show that the nociceptive sensory neurons respond similarly in the two sexes, yet the animals display sexually dimorphic behaviors to the same aversive stimuli. To uncover the role of the downstream network topology in shaping behavior, we learn and simulate network models that replicate the observed dimorphic behaviors and use them to predict simple network rewirings that would switch behavior between the sexes. We then show experimentally that these subtle synaptic rewirings indeed flip behavior. Interestingly, when presented with aversive cues, rewired males were compromised in finding mating partners, suggesting that network topologies that enable efficient avoidance of noxious cues have a reproductive "cost." Our results present a deconstruction of the design of a neural circuit that controls sexual behavior and how to reprogram it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladyslava Pechuk
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Gal Goldman
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yehuda Salzberg
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Aditi H Chaubey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - R Aaron Bola
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Jonathon R Hoffman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Morgan L Endreson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Renee M Miller
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Noah J Reger
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Douglas S Portman
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Denise M Ferkey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Elad Schneidman
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
| | - Meital Oren-Suissa
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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8
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Zhang X, Li S, Liu S. Juvenile Hormone Studies in Drosophila melanogaster. Front Physiol 2022; 12:785320. [PMID: 35222061 PMCID: PMC8867211 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.785320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In the field of insect endocrinology, juvenile hormone (JH) is one of the most wondrous entomological terms. As a unique sesquiterpenoid hormone produced and released by the endocrine gland, corpus allatum (CA), JH is a critical regulator in multiple developmental and physiological processes, such as metamorphosis, reproduction, and behavior. Benefited from the precise genetic interventions and simplicity, the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is an indispensable model in JH studies. This review is aimed to present the regulatory factors on JH biosynthesis and an overview of the regulatory roles of JH in Drosophila. The future directions of JH studies are also discussed, and a few hot spots are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoshuai Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Suning Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
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Wu B, He L, Xiao Y, Du J, Wang X, Zhao Z. Juvenile hormone receptor Met regulates sleep and neuronal morphology via glial-neuronal crosstalk. J Genet Genomics 2021; 48:706-715. [PMID: 34376377 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile hormone (JH) is one of the most important hormones in insects since it is essential for insect development. The mechanism by which JH affects the central nervous system still remains a mystery. In this study, we demonstrate that one of the JH receptors, Methoprene-tolerant (Met), is important for the control of neurite development and sleep behavior in Drosophila. With the identification of Met-expressing glial cells, the mechanism that Met negatively controls the mushroom body (MB) β lobes fusion and positively maintains pigment-dispersing factor sLNvs projection pruning has been established. Furthermore, despite the developmental effects, Met can also maintain nighttime sleep in a development-independent manner through the α/β lobe of MB. Combining analyses of neuronal morphology and entomological behavior, this study advances our understanding of how the JH receptor regulates the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Wu
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lei He
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yutong Xiao
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
| | - Zhangwu Zhao
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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10
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Alterations in the activity and sleep of Drosophila melanogaster under simulated microgravity. NPJ Microgravity 2021; 7:27. [PMID: 34294729 PMCID: PMC8298474 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-021-00157-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate alterations in the activity and sleep of Drosophila melanogaster under simulated microgravity, which was implemented through the random positioning machine, while different light conditions (normal photoperiod and constant dark) were set. Fruit flies of different strains and sexes were treated for 3 days, and activity and sleep were monitored using the Drosophila Activity Monitoring System. After 3 days of treatment, fruit flies were sampled to detect the relative expression levels of the major clock genes and some neurotransmitter-related genes. The results showed that for the normal photoperiod (LD) condition, the activity increased and sleep decreased under simulated microgravity, while for the constant dark (DD) condition, the activity and sleep rhythms appeared disordered and the activity increased, thus decreasing the likelihood of waking up during the day. Light conditions, strains, and sexes, individually or in combination, had impacts on the simulated microgravity effects on behaviors. The clock genes and neurotransmitter-related genes had different degrees of response among sexes and strains, although the overall changes were slight. The results indicated that the normal photoperiod could ease the effects of simulated microgravity on fruit flies' activity and sleep and possible unidentified pathways involved in the regulatory mechanism need further exploration. This study is expected to provide ideas and references for studying the effects of microgravity on space life science.
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11
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Mizuno Y, Imura E, Kurogi Y, Shimada-Niwa Y, Kondo S, Tanimoto H, Hückesfeld S, Pankratz MJ, Niwa R. A population of neurons that produce hugin and express the diuretic hormone 44 receptor gene projects to the corpora allata in Drosophila melanogaster. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:249-261. [PMID: 34021588 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The corpora allata (CA) are essential endocrine organs that biosynthesize and secrete the sesquiterpenoid hormone, namely juvenile hormone (JH), to regulate a wide variety of developmental and physiological events in insects. CA are directly innervated with neurons in many insect species, implying the innervations to be important for regulating JH biosynthesis. Although this is also true for the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, neurotransmitters produced in the CA-projecting neurons are yet to be identified. In this study on D. melanogaster, we aimed to demonstrate that a subset of neurons producing the neuropeptide hugin, the invertebrate counterpart of the vertebrate neuromedin U, directly projects to the adult CA. A synaptic vesicle marker in the hugin neurons was observed at their axon termini located on the CA, which were immunolabeled with a newly-generated antibody to the JH biosynthesis enzyme JH acid O-methyltransferase. We also found the CA-projecting hugin neurons to likely express a gene encoding the specific receptor for diuretic hormone 44 (Dh44). Moreover, our data suggest that the CA-projecting hugin neurons have synaptic connections with the upstream neurons producing Dh44. Unexpectedly, the inhibition of CA-projecting hugin neurons did not significantly alter the expression levels of the JH-inducible gene Krüppel-homolog 1, which implies that the CA-projecting neurons are not involved in JH biosynthesis but rather in other known biological processes. This is the first study to identify a specific neurotransmitter of the CA-projecting neurons in D. melanogaster, and to anatomically characterize a neuronal pathway of the CA-projecting neurons and their upstream neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Mizuno
- Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Eisuke Imura
- Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoshitomo Kurogi
- Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yuko Shimada-Niwa
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shu Kondo
- Invertebrate Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Hiromu Tanimoto
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | | | - Ryusuke Niwa
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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12
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Zhang R, Du J, Zhao X, Wei L, Zhao Z. Regulation of circadian behavioural output via clock-responsive miR-276b. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 30:81-89. [PMID: 33131172 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that microRNAs play numerous important roles. However, the roles of some microRNAs involved in regulation of circadian rhythm and sleep are still not well understood. In this study, we show that the miR-276b is essential for maintaining both sleep and circadian rhythm by targeting tim, npfr1 and DopR1 genes, with miR-276b deleted mutant flies sleeping more, and vice versa in miR-276b overexpressing flies. Through analysing its promoter, we found that mir-276b is responsive to CLOCK and regulates circadian rhythm through the negative feedback loop of the CLK/CYC-TIM/PER. Furthermore, miR-276b is broadly expressed in the clock neurons and the central complexes such as the mushroom body and the fan-shape body of Drosophila brain, in which up-regulation of miR-276b in tim, npfr1 and DopR1 expressing tissues significantly causes sleep decreases. This study clarifies that the mir-276b is very important for participating in regulation of circadian rhythm and sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Zhang
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - J Du
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - X Zhao
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - L Wei
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Z Zhao
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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13
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Bi J, Wang Y. The effect of the endosymbiont Wolbachia on the behavior of insect hosts. INSECT SCIENCE 2020; 27:846-858. [PMID: 31631529 PMCID: PMC7496987 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
As one of the most successful intracellular symbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia can infect many arthropods and nematodes. Wolbachia infection usually affects the reproduction of their hosts to promote their own proliferation and transmission. Currently, most of the studies focus on the mechanisms of Wolbachia interactions with host reproduction. However, in addition to distribution in the reproductive tissues, Wolbachia also infect various somatic tissues of their hosts, including the brain. This raises the potential that Wolbachia may influence some somatic processes, such as behaviors in their hosts. So far, information about the effects of Wolbachia infection on host behavior is still very limited. The present review presents the current literature on different aspects of the influence of Wolbachia on various behaviors, including sleep, learning and memory, mating, feeding and aggression in their insect hosts. We then highlight ongoing scientific efforts in the field that need addressing to advance this field, which can have significant implications for further developing Wolbachia as environmentally friendly biocontrol agents to control insect-borne diseases and agricultural pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Bi
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative BiologyCentral China Normal UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yu‐Feng Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative BiologyCentral China Normal UniversityWuhanChina
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14
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Tsang SSK, Law STS, Li C, Qu Z, Bendena WG, Tobe SS, Hui JHL. Diversity of Insect Sesquiterpenoid Regulation. Front Genet 2020; 11:1027. [PMID: 33133135 PMCID: PMC7511761 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.01027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects are arguably the most successful group of animals in the world in terms of both species numbers and diverse habitats. The sesquiterpenoids juvenile hormone, methyl farnesoate, and farnesoic acid are well known to regulate metamorphosis, reproduction, sexual dimorphism, eusociality, and defense in insects. Nevertheless, different insects have evolved with different sesquiterpenoid biosynthetic pathway as well as products. On the other hand, non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs have been implicated in regulation of many important biological processes, and have recently been explored in the regulation of sesquiterpenoid production. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on the diversity of sesquiterpenoids reported in different groups of insects, as well as the recent advancements in the understanding of regulation of sesquiterpenoid production by microRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey S K Tsang
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sean T S Law
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chade Li
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhe Qu
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Stephen S Tobe
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jerome H L Hui
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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15
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Pandey A, Motro U, Bloch G. Juvenile hormone affects the development and strength of circadian rhythms in young bumble bee (Bombus terrestris) workers. Neurobiol Sleep Circadian Rhythms 2020; 9:100056. [PMID: 33364524 PMCID: PMC7752729 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbscr.2020.100056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The circadian and endocrine systems influence many physiological processes in animals, but little is known on the ways they interact in insects. We tested the hypothesis that juvenile hormone (JH) influences circadian rhythms in the social bumble bee Bombus terrestris. JH is the major gonadotropin in this species coordinating processes such as vitellogenesis, oogenesis, wax production, and behaviors associated with reproduction. It is unknown however, whether it also influences circadian processes. We topically treated newly-emerged bees with the allatoxin Precocene-I (P-I) to reduce circulating JH titers and applied the natural JH (JH-III) for replacement therapy. We repeated this experiment in three trials, each with bees from different source colonies. Measurements of ovarian activity suggest that our JH manipulations were effective; bees treated with P-I had inactive ovaries, and this effect was fully recovered by subsequent JH treatment. We found that JH augments the strength of circadian rhythms and the pace of rhythm development in individually isolated newly emerged worker bees. JH manipulation did not affect the free-running circadian period, overall level of locomotor activity, sleep amount, or sleep structure. Given that acute manipulation at an early age produced relatively long-lasting effects, we propose that JH effects on circadian rhythms are mostly organizational, accelerating the development or integration of the circadian system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atul Pandey
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Uzi Motro
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Guy Bloch
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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16
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Luo W, Veeran S, Wang J, Li S, Li K, Liu SN. Dual roles of juvenile hormone signaling during early oogenesis in Drosophila. INSECT SCIENCE 2020; 27:665-674. [PMID: 31207060 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Juvenile hormone (JH) signaling plays crucial roles in insect metamorphosis and reproduction. Function of JH signaling in germline stem cells (GSCs) remains largely unknown. Here, we found that the number of GSCs significantly declined in the ovaries of Met, Gce and JHAMT mutants. Then we inhibited JH signaling in selected cell types of ovaries by expressing Met and Gce or Kr-h1 double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) using different Gal4 drivers. Blocking of JH signaling in muscle cells has no effect on GSC numbers. Blocking of JH signaling in cap cells reduced GSCs cells. Inductive expression of Met and Gce dsRNA but not Kr-h1 by Nos-Gal4 increased GSC cells. These results indicate that JH signaling plays an important role in GSC maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Luo
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sethuraman Veeran
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Sheng Li
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kang Li
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Su-Ning Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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17
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Dissel S. Drosophila as a Model to Study the Relationship Between Sleep, Plasticity, and Memory. Front Physiol 2020; 11:533. [PMID: 32547415 PMCID: PMC7270326 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans spend nearly a third of their life sleeping, yet, despite decades of research the function of sleep still remains a mystery. Sleep has been linked with various biological systems and functions, including metabolism, immunity, the cardiovascular system, and cognitive functions. Importantly, sleep appears to be present throughout the animal kingdom suggesting that it must provide an evolutionary advantage. Among the many possible functions of sleep, the relationship between sleep, and cognition has received a lot of support. We have all experienced the negative cognitive effects associated with a night of sleep deprivation. These can include increased emotional reactivity, poor judgment, deficit in attention, impairment in learning and memory, and obviously increase in daytime sleepiness. Furthermore, many neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease often have a sleep disorder component. In some cases, the sleep disorder can exacerbate the progression of the neurological disease. Thus, it is clear that sleep plays an important role for many brain functions. In particular, sleep has been shown to play a positive role in the consolidation of long-term memory while sleep deprivation negatively impacts learning and memory. Importantly, sleep is a behavior that is adapted to an individual’s need and influenced by many external and internal stimuli. In addition to being an adaptive behavior, sleep can also modulate plasticity in the brain at the level of synaptic connections between neurons and neuronal plasticity influences sleep. Understanding how sleep is modulated by internal and external stimuli and how sleep can modulate memory and plasticity is a key question in neuroscience. In order to address this question, several animal models have been developed. Among them, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster with its unparalleled genetics has proved to be extremely valuable. In addition to sleep, Drosophila has been shown to be an excellent model to study many complex behaviors, including learning, and memory. This review describes our current knowledge of the relationship between sleep, plasticity, and memory using the fly model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephane Dissel
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, United States
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18
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Belmonte RL, Corbally MK, Duneau DF, Regan JC. Sexual Dimorphisms in Innate Immunity and Responses to Infection in Drosophila melanogaster. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3075. [PMID: 32076419 PMCID: PMC7006818 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The sexes show profound differences in responses to infection and the development of autoimmunity. Dimorphisms in immune responses are ubiquitous across taxa, from arthropods to vertebrates. Drosophila melanogaster shows strong sex dimorphisms in immune system responses at baseline, upon pathogenic challenge, and over aging. We have performed an exhaustive survey of peer-reviewed literature on Drosophila immunity, and present a database of publications indicating the sex(es) analyzed in each study. While we found a growing interest in the community in adult immunity and in reporting both sexes, the main body of work in this field uses only one sex, or does not stratify by sex. We synthesize evidence for sexually dimorphic responses to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Dimorphisms may be mediated by distinct immune compartments, and we review work on sex differences in behavioral, epithelial, cellular, and systemic (fat body-mediated) immunity. Emerging work on sexually dimorphic aging of immune tissues, immune senescence, and inflammation are examined. We consider evolutionary drivers for sex differences in immune investment, highlight the features of Drosophila biology that make it particularly amenable to studies of immune dimorphisms, and discuss areas for future exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L. Belmonte
- Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mary-Kate Corbally
- Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David F. Duneau
- Laboratoire Evolution & Diversite Biologique, UMR5174 EDB, CNRS, Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Jennifer C. Regan
- Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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19
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Anholt RRH, O'Grady P, Wolfner MF, Harbison ST. Evolution of Reproductive Behavior. Genetics 2020; 214:49-73. [PMID: 31907301 PMCID: PMC6944409 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Behaviors associated with reproduction are major contributors to the evolutionary success of organisms and are subject to many evolutionary forces, including natural and sexual selection, and sexual conflict. Successful reproduction involves a range of behaviors, from finding an appropriate mate, courting, and copulation, to the successful production and (in oviparous animals) deposition of eggs following mating. As a consequence, behaviors and genes associated with reproduction are often under strong selection and evolve rapidly. Courtship rituals in flies follow a multimodal pattern, mediated through visual, chemical, tactile, and auditory signals. Premating behaviors allow males and females to assess the species identity, reproductive state, and condition of their partners. Conflicts between the "interests" of individual males, and/or between the reproductive strategies of males and females, often drive the evolution of reproductive behaviors. For example, seminal proteins transmitted by males often show evidence of rapid evolution, mediated by positive selection. Postmating behaviors, including the selection of oviposition sites, are highly variable and Drosophila species span the spectrum from generalists to obligate specialists. Chemical recognition features prominently in adaptation to host plants for feeding and oviposition. Selection acting on variation in pre-, peri-, and postmating behaviors can lead to reproductive isolation and incipient speciation. Response to selection at the genetic level can include the expansion of gene families, such as those for detecting pheromonal cues for mating, or changes in the expression of genes leading to visual cues such as wing spots that are assessed during mating. Here, we consider the evolution of reproductive behavior in Drosophila at two distinct, yet complementary, scales. Some studies take a microevolutionary approach, identifying genes and networks involved in reproduction, and then dissecting the genetics underlying complex behaviors in D. melanogaster Other studies take a macroevolutionary approach, comparing reproductive behaviors across the genus Drosophila and how these might correlate with environmental cues. A full synthesis of this field will require unification across these levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert R H Anholt
- Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, South Carolina 29646
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Greenwood, South Carolina 29646
| | - Patrick O'Grady
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
| | - Susan T Harbison
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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20
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García-Reina A, Rossi E, Galián J. Effects of lipopolysaccharide and juvenile hormone III treatments on cell growth and gene expression in the Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) CCE/CC128 cell line. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 102:e21617. [PMID: 31512283 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata is one of the most important insect pest species in the world. It has a high colonization capacity and population variety, giving it considerable genetic diversity. Strategies for its control have included the sterile insect technique and insect growth regulators. Many studies have analyzed the medfly transcriptome, and along with the medfly genome sequence, the sequences of multiple genes related to sex determination, mating, development, pheromone detection, immunity, or stress have been identified. In this study, the medfly CCE/CC128 cell line was used to assess cell growth variation and changes in the expression of genes covering different functions, after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and juvenile hormone III (JHIII) treatments. No significant effects on cell growth and gene expression were observed in the cells treated with LPS. In the cells treated with JHIII, the results showed significant effects on cell growth, and an overexpression was found of the Shade gene, one of the Halloween gene members of the cytochrome p450 family, which is involved in development and the synthesis of 20-hydroxyecdysone. This study shows preliminary results on the insect cell line in combination with whole-genome sequencing, which can facilitate studies regarding growth, toxicity, immunity, and transcriptome regulations as a response to different compounds and environmental alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés García-Reina
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - José Galián
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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21
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Sato K, Goto J, Yamamoto D. Sex Mysteries of the Fly Courtship Master Regulator Fruitless. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:245. [PMID: 31680899 PMCID: PMC6813181 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The fruitless (fru) gene of Drosophila melanogaster generates two groups of protein products, the male-specific FruM proteins and non-sex-specific FruCOM proteins. The FruM proteins have a 101 amino acids (a.a.)-long extension at the N-terminus which is absent from FruCOM. We suggest that this N-terminal extension might confer male-specific roles on FruM interaction partner proteins such as Lola, which otherwise operates as a transcription factor common to both sexes. FruM-expressing neurons are known to connect with other neurons to form a sexually dimorphic circuit for male mating behavior. We propose that FruM proteins expressed in two synaptic partners specify, at the transcriptional level, signaling pathways through which select pre- and post-synaptic partners communicate, and thereby pleiotropic ligand-receptor pairs for cell-cell interactions acquire the high specificity for mutual connections between two FruM-positive cells. We further discuss the possibility that synaptic connections made by FruM-positive neurons are regulated by neural activities, which in turn upregulate Fru expression in active cells, resulting in feedforward enhancement of courtship activities of the male fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosei Sato
- Neuro-Network Evolution Project, Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
| | - Junpei Goto
- Division of Neurogenetics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences, Sendai, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yamamoto
- Neuro-Network Evolution Project, Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
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22
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Sethi S, Lin HH, Shepherd AK, Volkan PC, Su CY, Wang JW. Social Context Enhances Hormonal Modulation of Pheromone Detection in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2019; 29:3887-3898.e4. [PMID: 31679932 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.09.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Critical to evolutionary fitness, animals regulate social behaviors by integrating signals from both their external environments and internal states. Here, we find that population density modulates the courtship behavior of male Drosophila melanogaster in an age-dependent manner. In a competitive mating assay, males reared in a social environment have a marked advantage in courting females when pitted against males reared in isolation. Group housing promotes courtship in mature (7-day) but not immature (2-day) males; this behavioral plasticity requires the Or47b pheromone receptor. Using single-sensillum recordings, we find that group housing increases the response of Or47b olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) only in mature males. The effect of group housing on olfactory response and behavior can be mimicked by chronically exposing single-housed males to an Or47b ligand. At the molecular level, group housing elevates Ca2+ levels in Or47b ORNs, likely leading to CaMKI-mediated activation of the histone-acetyl transferase CBP. This signaling event in turn enhances the efficacy of juvenile hormone, an age-related regulator of reproductive maturation in flies. Furthermore, the male-specific Fruitless isoform (FruM) is required for the sensory plasticity, suggesting that FruM functions as a downstream genomic coincidence detector in Or47b ORNs-integrating reproductive maturity, signaled by juvenile hormone, and population density, signaled by CBP. In all, we identify a neural substrate and activity-dependent mechanism by which social context can directly influence pheromone sensitivity, thereby modulating social behavior according to animals' life-history stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin Sethi
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Hui-Hao Lin
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Andrew K Shepherd
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Pelin C Volkan
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Chih-Ying Su
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jing W Wang
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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23
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Brenman-Suttner DB, Yost RT, Frame AK, Robinson JW, Moehring AJ, Simon AF. Social behavior and aging: A fly model. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 19:e12598. [PMID: 31286644 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The field of behavioral genetics has recently begun to explore the effect of age on social behaviors. Such studies are particularly important, as certain neuropsychiatric disorders with abnormal social interactions, like autism and schizophrenia, have been linked to older parents. Appropriate social interaction can also have a positive impact on longevity, and is associated with successful aging in humans. Currently, there are few genetic models for understanding the effect of aging on social behavior and its potential transgenerational inheritance. The fly is emerging as a powerful model for identifying the basic molecular mechanisms underlying neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, we discuss these recent advancements, with a focus on how studies in Drosophila melanogaster have provided insight into the effect of aging on aspects of social behavior, including across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dova B Brenman-Suttner
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryley T Yost
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ariel K Frame
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - J Wesley Robinson
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amanda J Moehring
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anne F Simon
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Daywake, an Anti-siesta Gene Linked to a Splicing-Based Thermostat from an Adjoining Clock Gene. Curr Biol 2019; 29:1728-1734.e4. [PMID: 31080079 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.04.039] [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: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Sleep is fundamental to animal survival but is a vulnerable state that also limits how much time can be devoted to critical wake-dependent activities [1]. Although many animals are day-active and sleep at night, they exhibit a midday nap, or "siesta," that can vary in intensity and is usually more prominent on warm days. In humans, the balance between maintaining the wake state or sleeping during the day has important health implications [2], but the mechanisms underlying this dynamic regulation are poorly understood. Using the well-established Drosophila melanogaster animal model to study sleep [3], we identify a new wake-sleep regulator that we term daywake (dyw). dyw encodes a juvenile hormone-binding protein [4] that functions in neurons as a day-specific anti-siesta gene, with little effect on sleep levels during the nighttime or in the absence of light. Remarkably, dyw expression is stimulated in trans via cold-enhanced splicing of the dmpi8 intron [5] from the reverse-oriented but slightly overlapping period (per) clock gene [6]. The functionally integrated dmpi8-dyw genetic unit operates as a "behavioral temperate acclimator" by increasingly counterbalancing siesta-promoting pathways as daily temperatures become cooler and carry reduced risks from daytime heat exposure. While daily patterns of when animals are awake and when they sleep are largely scheduled by the circadian timing system, dyw implicates a less recognized class of modulatory wake-sleep regulators that primarily function to enhance flexibility in wake-sleep preference, a behavioral plasticity that is commonly observed in animals during the midday, raising the possibility of shared mechanisms.
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25
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Cheng Y, Chen D. Fruit fly research in China. J Genet Genomics 2018; 45:583-592. [PMID: 30455037 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Served as a model organism over a century, fruit fly has significantly pushed forward the development of global scientific research, including in China. The high similarity in genomic features between fruit fly and human enables this tiny insect to benefit the biomedical studies of human diseases. In the past decades, Chinese biologists have used fruit fly to make numerous achievements on understanding the fundamental questions in many diverse areas of biology. Here, we review some of the recent fruit fly studies in China, and mainly focus on those studies in the fields of stem cell biology, cancer therapy and regeneration medicine, neurological disorders and epigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Dahua Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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