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Bengochea M, Preat T, Hassan B. A New Behavioral Paradigm for Visual Classical Conditioning in Drosophila. Bio Protoc 2023; 13:e4875. [PMID: 37969763 PMCID: PMC10632160 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual learning in animals is a remarkable cognitive ability that plays a crucial role in their survival and adaptation. Therefore, the ability to learn is highly conserved among animals. Despite lacking a centralized nervous system like vertebrates, invertebrates have demonstrated remarkable learning abilities. Here, we describe a simple behavioral assay that allows the analysis of visual associative learning in individually traceable freely walking adult fruit flies. The setup is based on the simple and widely used behavioral assay to study orientation behavior in flies. A single wing-clipped fly that has been starved for 21 h is placed on a platform where two unreachable opposite visual sets are displayed. This visual learning protocol was initially developed to study the cognitive ability of fruit flies to process numerical information. Through the application of the protocol, flies are able to associate a specific visual set with an appetitive reward. This association is revealed 2 h later during the testing session where we observed a change in their preference upon learning (i.e., change in their spontaneous preference). Moreover, this protocol could potentially be used to associate any other visual object/property to the reward, expanding the opportunities of studying visual learning in freely walking fruit flies at individual level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Bengochea
- Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Preat
- Brain Plasticity Unit, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Bassem Hassan
- Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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2
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Mi K, Li Y, Yang Y, Secombe J, Liu X. DVT: a high-throughput analysis pipeline for locomotion and social behavior in adult Drosophila melanogaster. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:187. [PMID: 37798731 PMCID: PMC10557313 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01125-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drosophila melanogaster is excellent animal model for understanding the molecular basis of human neurological and motor disorders. The experimental conditions and chamber design varied between studies. Moreover, most previously established paradigms focus on fly trace detection algorithm development. A comprehensive understanding on how fly behaves in the chamber is still lacking. RESULTS In this report, we established 74 unique behavior metrics quantifying spatiotemporal characteristics of adult fly locomotion and social behaviors, of which 49 were newly proposed. By the aiding of the developed analysis pipeline, Drosophila video tracking (DVT), we identified siginificantly different patterns of fly behavior confronted with different chamber height, fly density, illumination and experimental time. Meanwhile, three fly strains which are widely used as control lines, Canton-S(CS), w1118 and Oregon-R (OR), were found to exhibit distinct motion explosiveness and exercise endurance. CONCLUSIONS We believe the proposed behavior metrics set and pipeline should help identify subtle spatial and temporal differences of drosophila behavior confronted with different environmental factors or gene variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Mi
- Department of Pathogen Biology-Microbiology Division, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Key Laboratory of Pathogen of Jiangsu Province, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
- The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yiqing Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology-Microbiology Division, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Key Laboratory of Pathogen of Jiangsu Province, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yuhang Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology-Microbiology Division, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Key Laboratory of Pathogen of Jiangsu Province, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Julie Secombe
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Xingyin Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology-Microbiology Division, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Key Laboratory of Pathogen of Jiangsu Province, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
- The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
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Mohylyak I, Bengochea M, Pascual-Caro C, Asfogo N, Fonseca-Topp S, Danda N, Atak ZK, De Waegeneer M, Plaçais PY, Preat T, Aerts S, Corti O, de Juan-Sanz J, Hassan BA. Developmental transcriptional control of mitochondrial homeostasis is required for activity-dependent synaptic connectivity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.11.544500. [PMID: 37333418 PMCID: PMC10274921 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.11.544500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
During neuronal circuit formation, local control of axonal organelles ensures proper synaptic connectivity. Whether this process is genetically encoded is unclear and if so, its developmental regulatory mechanisms remain to be identified. We hypothesized that developmental transcription factors regulate critical parameters of organelle homeostasis that contribute to circuit wiring. We combined cell type-specific transcriptomics with a genetic screen to discover such factors. We identified Telomeric Zinc finger-Associated Protein (TZAP) as a temporal developmental regulator of neuronal mitochondrial homeostasis genes, including Pink1 . In Drosophila , loss of dTzap function during visual circuit development leads to loss of activity-dependent synaptic connectivity, that can be rescued by Pink1 expression. At the cellular level, loss of dTzap/TZAP leads to defects in mitochondrial morphology, attenuated calcium uptake and reduced synaptic vesicle release in fly and mammalian neurons. Our findings highlight developmental transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis as a key factor in activity-dependent synaptic connectivity.
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Sanchez Marco SB, Buhl E, Firth R, Zhu B, Gainsborough M, Beleza-Meireles A, Moore S, Caswell R, Stals K, Ellard S, Kennedy C, Hodge JJL, Majumdar A. Hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP) presenting as cerebral palsy due to ADD3 variant with mechanistic insight provided by a Drosophila γ-adducin model. Clin Genet 2022; 102:494-502. [PMID: 36046955 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cerebral palsy (CP) causes neurological disability in early childhood. Hypoxic-ischaemic injury plays a major role in its aetiology, nevertheless, genetic and epigenetic factors may contribute to the clinical presentation. Mutations in ADD3 (encoding γ-adducin) gene have been described in a monogenic form of spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (OMIM 601568). METHODS We studied a sixteen-year-old male with spastic diplegia. Several investigations including neurometabolic testing, brain and spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CGH-Array were normal. Further, clinical genetics assessment and Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) gave the diagnosis. We generated an animal model using Drosophila to study the effects of γ-adducin loss and gain of function. RESULTS WES revealed a biallelic variant in the ADD3 gene, NM_016824.5(ADD3): c.1100G>A, p.(Gly367Asp). Mutations in this gene have been described as an ultra-rare autosomal recessive which is a known form of inherited cerebral palsy. Molecular modelling suggests that this mutation leads to a loss of structural integrity of γ-adducin and is therefore expected to result in a decreased level of functional protein. Pan-neuronal over-expression or knock-down of the Drosophila ortholog of ADD3 called hts caused a reduction of life span and impaired locomotion thereby phenocopying aspects of the human disease. CONCLUSION Our animal experiments present a starting point to understand the biological processes underpinning the clinical phenotype and pathogenic mechanisms, to gain insights into potential future methods for treating or preventing ADD3 related spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edgar Buhl
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Rosie Firth
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Bangfu Zhu
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Mary Gainsborough
- Department of Community Paediatrics, Sirona Care and Health, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Sandra Moore
- Exeter Genomics Laboratory, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK
| | - Richard Caswell
- Exeter Genomics Laboratory, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK
| | - Karen Stals
- Exeter Genomics Laboratory, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK
| | - Sian Ellard
- Exeter Genomics Laboratory, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK
| | - Cameron Kennedy
- Department of Paediatric Dermatology, Bristol Children's Hospital, Bristol, UK
| | - James J L Hodge
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Anirban Majumdar
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Bristol Children's Hospital, Bristol, UK
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5
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Huda A, Omelchenko AA, Vaden TJ, Castaneda AN, Ni L. Responses of different Drosophila species to temperature changes. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275567. [PMID: 35481475 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Temperature is a critical environmental variable that affects the distribution, survival, and reproduction of most animals. Although temperature receptors have been identified in many animals, how these receptors respond to temperature is still unclear. Here, we describe an automated tracking method for studying the thermotactic behaviors of Drosophila larvae and adults. We build optimal experimental setups to capture behavioral recordings and analyze them using free software, Fiji and TrackMate, which do not require programming knowledge. Then, the adult thermotactic two-choice assay is applied to examine the movement and temperature preferences of nine Drosophila species. The ability or inclination to move varies among these species and at different temperatures. Distinct species prefer various ranges of temperatures. Wild-type D. melanogaster flies avoid the warmer temperature in the warm avoidance assay and the cooler temperature in the cool avoidance assay. Conversely, D. bipectinata and D. yakuba do not avoid warm or cool temperatures in the respective assays, and D. biarmipes and D. mojavensis do not avoid the warm temperature in the warm avoidance assay. These results demonstrate that Drosophila species have different mobilities and temperature preferences, which will benefit further research in exploring molecular mechanisms of temperature responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainul Huda
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Alisa A Omelchenko
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Thomas J Vaden
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Allison N Castaneda
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Lina Ni
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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6
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Kiral FR, Dutta SB, Linneweber GA, Hilgert S, Poppa C, Duch C, von Kleist M, Hassan BA, Hiesinger PR. Brain connectivity inversely scales with developmental temperature in Drosophila. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110145. [PMID: 34936868 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Variability of synapse numbers and partners despite identical genes reveals the limits of genetic determinism. Here, we use developmental temperature as a non-genetic perturbation to study variability of brain wiring and behavior in Drosophila. Unexpectedly, slower development at lower temperatures increases axo-dendritic branching, synapse numbers, and non-canonical synaptic partnerships of various neurons, while maintaining robust ratios of canonical synapses. Using R7 photoreceptors as a model, we show that changing the relative availability of synaptic partners using a DIPγ mutant that ablates R7's preferred partner leads to temperature-dependent recruitment of non-canonical partners to reach normal synapse numbers. Hence, R7 synaptic specificity is not absolute but based on the relative availability of postsynaptic partners and presynaptic control of synapse numbers. Behaviorally, movement precision is temperature robust, while movement activity is optimized for the developmentally encountered temperature. These findings suggest genetically encoded relative and scalable synapse formation to develop functional, but not identical, brains and behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdi Ridvan Kiral
- Division of Neurobiology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Suchetana B Dutta
- Division of Neurobiology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerit Arne Linneweber
- Division of Neurobiology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Selina Hilgert
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology (iDN), Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Caroline Poppa
- Division of Neurobiology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten Duch
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology (iDN), Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Max von Kleist
- MF1 Bioinformatics, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bassem A Hassan
- Division of Neurobiology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - P Robin Hiesinger
- Division of Neurobiology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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Mollá-Albaladejo R, Sánchez-Alcañiz JA. Behavior Individuality: A Focus on Drosophila melanogaster. Front Physiol 2021; 12:719038. [PMID: 34916952 PMCID: PMC8670942 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.719038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Among individuals, behavioral differences result from the well-known interplay of nature and nurture. Minute differences in the genetic code can lead to differential gene expression and function, dramatically affecting developmental processes and adult behavior. Environmental factors, epigenetic modifications, and gene expression and function are responsible for generating stochastic behaviors. In the last decade, the advent of high-throughput sequencing has facilitated studying the genetic basis of behavior and individuality. We can now study the genomes of multiple individuals and infer which genetic variations might be responsible for the observed behavior. In addition, the development of high-throughput behavioral paradigms, where multiple isogenic animals can be analyzed in various environmental conditions, has again facilitated the study of the influence of genetic and environmental variations in animal personality. Mainly, Drosophila melanogaster has been the focus of a great effort to understand how inter-individual behavioral differences emerge. The possibility of using large numbers of animals, isogenic populations, and the possibility of modifying neuronal function has made it an ideal model to search for the origins of individuality. In the present review, we will focus on the recent findings that try to shed light on the emergence of individuality with a particular interest in D. melanogaster.
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8
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Steymans I, Pujol-Lereis LM, Brembs B, Gorostiza EA. Collective action or individual choice: Spontaneity and individuality contribute to decision-making in Drosophila. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256560. [PMID: 34437617 PMCID: PMC8389364 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Our own unique character traits make our behavior consistent and define our individuality. Yet, this consistency does not entail that we behave repetitively like machines. Like humans, animals also combine personality traits with spontaneity to produce adaptive behavior: consistent, but not fully predictable. Here, we study an iconically rigid behavioral trait, insect phototaxis, that nevertheless also contains both components of individuality and spontaneity. In a light/dark T-maze, approximately 70% of a group of Drosophila fruit flies choose the bright arm of the T-Maze, while the remaining 30% walk into the dark. Taking the photopositive and the photonegative subgroups and re-testing them reveals the spontaneous component: a similar 70–30 distribution emerges in each of the two subgroups. Increasing the number of choices to ten choices, reveals the individuality component: flies with an extremely negative series of first choices were more likely to show photonegative behavior in subsequent choices and vice versa. General behavioral traits, independent of light/dark preference, contributed to the development of this individuality. The interaction of individuality and spontaneity together explains why group averages, even for such seemingly stereotypical behaviors, are poor predictors of individual choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Steymans
- Institut für Zoologie - Neurogenetik, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Luciana M. Pujol-Lereis
- Laboratory of Amyloidosis and Neurodegeneration, Fundación Instituto Leloir, IIBBA, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Björn Brembs
- Institut für Zoologie - Neurogenetik, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (EAG); (BB)
| | - E. Axel Gorostiza
- Institut für Zoologie - Neurogenetik, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE) CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail: (EAG); (BB)
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Ahronberg A, Scharf I. Social isolation interaction with the feeding regime differentially affects survival and results in a hump-shaped pattern in movement activity. Behav Processes 2021; 190:104460. [PMID: 34256142 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Eusocial insects depend on their colonies, and it is therefore clear why isolation triggers many negative effects on isolated individuals. Here, we examined the effect of social isolation on the desert ant Cataglyphis niger, asking whether isolation, either with access to food or under starvation, impairs survival, and whether isolation modifies movement activity and digging to bypass an obstacle. Social isolation led to shorter survival but only when food was provided. This effect might be due to food not being digested correctly under isolation. Although isolated ant workers were more active immediately post isolation than 2-24 hours later, their movement moderately increased two days post isolation. We suggest that the changes in movement activity are adaptive: first, the worker increases activity intended to reunite it with the lost colony. Then, when the colony is not found, it reduces activity to conserve energy. It later increases activity as a final attempt to detect the colony. We expected isolated workers to dig faster to bypass an obstacle, but we did not detect any effect on digging behavior. We demonstrate here the complex effects of isolation on survival and movement activity, in interaction with additional factors - feeding and isolation duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Ahronberg
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Inon Scharf
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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10
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Hidalgo S, Campusano JM, Hodge JJL. Assessing olfactory, memory, social and circadian phenotypes associated with schizophrenia in a genetic model based on Rim. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:292. [PMID: 34001859 PMCID: PMC8128896 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01418-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia shows high heritability and several of the genes associated with this disorder are involved in calcium (Ca2+) signalling and synaptic function. One of these is the Rab-3 interacting molecule-1 (RIM1), which has recently been associated with schizophrenia by Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS). However, its contribution to the pathophysiology of this disorder remains unexplored. In this work, we use Drosophila mutants of the orthologue of RIM1, Rim, to model some aspects of the classical and non-classical symptoms of schizophrenia. Rim mutants showed several behavioural features relevant to schizophrenia including social distancing and altered olfactory processing. These defects were accompanied by reduced evoked Ca2+ influx and structural changes in the presynaptic terminals sent by the primary olfactory neurons to higher processing centres. In contrast, expression of Rim-RNAi in the mushroom bodies (MBs), the main memory centre in flies, spared learning and memory suggesting a differential role of Rim in different synapses. Circadian deficits have been reported in schizophrenia. We observed circadian locomotor activity deficits in Rim mutants, revealing a role of Rim in the pacemaker ventral lateral clock neurons (LNvs). These changes were accompanied by impaired day/night remodelling of dorsal terminal synapses from a subpopulation of LNvs and impaired day/night release of the circadian neuropeptide pigment dispersing factor (PDF) from these terminals. Lastly, treatment with the commonly used antipsychotic haloperidol rescued Rim locomotor deficits to wildtype. This work characterises the role of Rim in synaptic functions underlying behaviours disrupted in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Hidalgo
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jorge M Campusano
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - James J L Hodge
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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11
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Sensitivity to expression levels underlies differential dominance of a putative null allele of the Drosophila tβh gene in behavioral phenotypes. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001228. [PMID: 33970909 PMCID: PMC8136860 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The biogenic amine octopamine (OA) and its precursor tyramine (TA) are involved in controlling a plethora of different physiological and behavioral processes. The tyramine-β-hydroxylase (tβh) gene encodes the enzyme catalyzing the last synthesis step from TA to OA. Here, we report differential dominance (from recessive to overdominant) of the putative null tβhnM18 allele in 2 behavioral measures in Buridan’s paradigm (walking speed and stripe deviation) and in proboscis extension (sugar sensitivity) in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The behavioral analysis of transgenic tβh expression experiments in mutant and wild-type flies as well as of OA and TA receptor mutants revealed a complex interaction of both aminergic systems. Our analysis suggests that the different neuronal networks responsible for the 3 phenotypes show differential sensitivity to tβh gene expression levels. The evidence suggests that this sensitivity is brought about by a TA/OA opponent system modulating the involved neuronal circuits. This conclusion has important implications for standard transgenic techniques commonly used in functional genetics. Differential dominance occurs when genes associated with several phenotypes (pleiotropic genes) show different modes of inheritance (e.g., recessive, dominant or overdominant) depending on the phenotype. This study reveals that differential sensitivity to gene expression levels can mediate differential dominance, which can be a significant challenge for standard transgenic techniques commonly used to elucidate gene function.
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12
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Carvajal-Oliveros A, Domínguez-Baleón C, Zárate RV, Campusano JM, Narváez-Padilla V, Reynaud E. Nicotine suppresses Parkinson's disease like phenotypes induced by Synphilin-1 overexpression in Drosophila melanogaster by increasing tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine levels. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9579. [PMID: 33953275 PMCID: PMC8099903 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88910-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been observed that there is a lower Parkinson's disease (PD) incidence in tobacco users. Nicotine is a cholinergic agonist and is the principal psychoactive compound in tobacco linked to cigarette addiction. Different studies have shown that nicotine has beneficial effects on sporadic and genetic models of PD. In this work we evaluate nicotine's protective effect in a Drosophila melanogaster model for PD where Synphilin-1 (Sph-1) is expressed in dopaminergic neurons. Nicotine has a moderate effect on dopaminergic neuron survival that becomes more evident as flies age. Nicotine is beneficial on fly survival and motility increasing tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine levels, suggesting that cholinergic agonists may promote survival and metabolic function of the dopaminergic neurons that express Sph-1. The Sph-1 expressing fly is a good model for the study of early-onset phenotypes such as olfaction loss one of the main non-motor symptom related to PD. Our data suggest that nicotine is an interesting therapeutic molecule whose properties should be explored in future research on the phenotypic modulators of the disease and for the development of new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Carvajal-Oliveros
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, A.P. 510-3, 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor., Mexico
| | - Carmen Domínguez-Baleón
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, A.P. 510-3, 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor., Mexico
| | - Rafaella V Zárate
- Laboratorio Neurogenética de la Conducta, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge M Campusano
- Laboratorio Neurogenética de la Conducta, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Verónica Narváez-Padilla
- Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Enrique Reynaud
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, A.P. 510-3, 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor., Mexico.
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13
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Melnattur K, Kirszenblat L, Morgan E, Militchin V, Sakran B, English D, Patel R, Chan D, van Swinderen B, Shaw PJ. A conserved role for sleep in supporting Spatial Learning in Drosophila. Sleep 2021; 44:5909488. [PMID: 32959053 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa197] [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: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep loss and aging impair hippocampus-dependent Spatial Learning in mammalian systems. Here we use the fly Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the relationship between sleep and Spatial Learning in healthy and impaired flies. The Spatial Learning assay is modeled after the Morris Water Maze. The assay uses a "thermal maze" consisting of a 5 × 5 grid of Peltier plates maintained at 36-37°C and a visual panorama. The first trial begins when a single tile that is associated with a specific visual cue is cooled to 25°C. For subsequent trials, the cold tile is heated, the visual panorama is rotated and the flies must find the new cold tile by remembering its association with the visual cue. Significant learning was observed with two different wild-type strains-Cs and 2U, validating our design. Sleep deprivation prior to training impaired Spatial Learning. Learning was also impaired in the classic learning mutant rutabaga (rut); enhancing sleep restored learning to rut mutants. Further, we found that flies exhibited a dramatic age-dependent cognitive decline in Spatial Learning starting at 20-24 days of age. These impairments could be reversed by enhancing sleep. Finally, we find that Spatial Learning requires dopaminergic signaling and that enhancing dopaminergic signaling in aged flies restored learning. Our results are consistent with the impairments seen in rodents and humans. These results thus demonstrate a critical conserved role for sleep in supporting Spatial Learning, and suggest potential avenues for therapeutic intervention during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Melnattur
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Leonie Kirszenblat
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ellen Morgan
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Valentin Militchin
- Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Blake Sakran
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Denis English
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Rushi Patel
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Dorothy Chan
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Bruno van Swinderen
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul J Shaw
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
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14
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Khakhalin AS. Analysis of Visual Collision Avoidance in Xenopus Tadpoles. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2021; 2021:pdb.prot106914. [PMID: 33272972 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot106914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In teaching, the best exam questions are those that seem simple at first but can lead to deep and nuanced conversations. Similarly, to probe brain development, we should look for behaviors that are easy to evoke and quantify, but that are demanding, malleable, and inherently variable. Visual collision avoidance is an example of such a behavior; it is ecologically relevant, robust, and easy to record, but also nuanced and shaped by the sensory history of the animal. Here we describe how to set up a visual avoidance assay and how to use it to test sensory processing and sensorimotor transformations in the vertebrate brain.
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15
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Han R, Wei TM, Tseng SC, Lo CC. Characterizing approach behavior of Drosophila melanogaster in Buridan's paradigm. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245990. [PMID: 33507934 PMCID: PMC7843020 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Buridan's paradigm is a behavioral task designed for testing visuomotor responses or phototaxis in fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In the task, a wing-shortened fruit fly freely moves on a round platform surrounded by a 360° white screen with two vertical black stripes placed at 0° and 180°. A normal fly will tend to approach the stripes one at a time and move back and forth between them. A variety of tasks developed based on the Buridan's paradigm were designed to test other cognitive functions such as visual spatial memory. Although the movement patterns and the behavioral preferences of the flies in the Buridan's or similar tasks have been extensively studies a few decades ago, the protocol and experimental settings are markedly different from what are used today. We revisited the Buridan's paradigm and systematically investigated the approach behavior of fruit flies under different stimulus settings. While early studies revealed an edge-fixation behavior for a wide stripe in the initial visuomotor responses, we did not discover such tendency in the Buridan's paradigm when observing a longer-term behavior up to minutes, a memory-task relevant time scale. Instead, we observed robust negative photoaxis in which the flies approached the central part of the dark stripes of all sizes. In addition, we found that stripes of 20°-30° width yielded the best performance of approach. We further varied the luminance of the stripes and the background screen, and discovered that the performance depended on the luminance ratio between the stripes and the screen. Our study provided useful information for designing and optimizing the Buridan's paradigm and other behavioral tasks that utilize the approach behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Han
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Min Wei
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Chiao Tseng
- The Department of Life Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Chuan Lo
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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16
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Palazzo O, Rass M, Brembs B. Identification of FoxP circuits involved in locomotion and object fixation in Drosophila. Open Biol 2020; 10:200295. [PMID: 33321059 PMCID: PMC7776582 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The FoxP family of transcription factors is necessary for operant self-learning, an evolutionary conserved form of motor learning. The expression pattern, molecular function and mechanisms of action of the Drosophila FoxP orthologue remain to be elucidated. By editing the genomic locus of FoxP with CRISPR/Cas9, we find that the three different FoxP isoforms are expressed in neurons, but not in glia and that not all neurons express all isoforms. Furthermore, we detect FoxP expression in, e.g. the protocerebral bridge, the fan-shaped body and in motor neurons, but not in the mushroom bodies. Finally, we discover that FoxP expression during development, but not adulthood, is required for normal locomotion and landmark fixation in walking flies. While FoxP expression in the protocerebral bridge and motor neurons is involved in locomotion and landmark fixation, the FoxP gene can be excised from dorsal cluster neurons and mushroom-body Kenyon cells without affecting these behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ottavia Palazzo
- Institut für Zoologie - Neurogenetik, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mathias Rass
- Institut für Zoologie - Neurogenetik, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Björn Brembs
- Institut für Zoologie - Neurogenetik, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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17
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Tainton-Heap LAL, Kirszenblat LC, Notaras ET, Grabowska MJ, Jeans R, Feng K, Shaw PJ, van Swinderen B. A Paradoxical Kind of Sleep in Drosophila melanogaster. Curr Biol 2020; 31:578-590.e6. [PMID: 33238155 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.10.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The dynamic nature of sleep in many animals suggests distinct stages that serve different functions. Genetic sleep induction methods in animal models provide a powerful way to disambiguate these stages and functions, although behavioral methods alone are insufficient to accurately identify what kind of sleep is being engaged. In Drosophila, activation of the dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB) promotes sleep, but it remains unclear what kind of sleep this is, how the rest of the fly brain is behaving, or if any specific sleep functions are being achieved. Here, we developed a method to record calcium activity from thousands of neurons across a volume of the fly brain during spontaneous sleep and compared this to dFB-induced sleep. We found that spontaneous sleep typically transitions from an active "wake-like" stage to a less active stage. In contrast, optogenetic activation of the dFB promotes sustained wake-like levels of neural activity even though flies become unresponsive to mechanical stimuli. When we probed flies with salient visual stimuli, we found that the activity of visually responsive neurons in the central brain was blocked by transient dFB activation, confirming an acute disconnect from the external environment. Prolonged optogenetic dFB activation nevertheless achieved a key sleep function by correcting visual attention defects brought on by sleep deprivation. These results suggest that dFB activation promotes a distinct form of sleep in Drosophila, where brain activity appears similar to wakefulness, but responsiveness to external sensory stimuli is profoundly suppressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy A L Tainton-Heap
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Leonie C Kirszenblat
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Eleni T Notaras
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Martyna J Grabowska
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Rhiannon Jeans
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kai Feng
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Paul J Shaw
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Bruno van Swinderen
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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18
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Zhuravlev AV, Vetrovoy OV, Ivanova PN, Savvateeva-Popova EV. 3-Hydroxykynurenine in Regulation of Drosophila Behavior: The Novel Mechanisms for Cardinal Phenotype Manifestations. Front Physiol 2020; 11:971. [PMID: 32848886 PMCID: PMC7426499 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysfunctions of kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism (KPTM) are associated with multiple neuropathologies in vertebrates and invertebrates. Drosophila mutants with altered content of kynurenines are model objects for studying the molecular processes of neurodegeneration and senile dementia. The mutant cardinal (cd1) with accumulation of the redox stress inductor 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HOK) shows age-dependent impairments of the courtship song and middle-term memory. The molecular mechanisms for 3-HOK accumulation in cd1 are still unknown. Here, we have studied age-dependent differences in spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA) for the wild type strain Canton-S (CS), cd1, and cinnabar (cn1) with an excess of neuroprotective kynurenic acid (KYNA). We have also estimated the level and distribution of protein-bound 3-HOK (PB-3-HOK) in Drosophila brains (Br) and head tissues. The middle-age cd1 show the higher running speed and lower run frequency compared to CS, for cn1 the situation is the opposite. There is a decrease in the index of activity for 40-day-old cd1 that seems to be an effect of the oxidative stress development. Surprisingly, PB-3-HOK level in Drosophila heads, brains, and head capsules (HC) is several times lower for cd1 compared to CS. This complements the traditional hypothesis that cd1 phenotype results from a mutation in phenoxazinone synthase (PHS) gene governing the brown eye pigment xanthommatin synthesis. In addition to 3-HOK dimerization, cd1 mutation affects protein modification by 3-HOK. The accumulation of free 3-HOK in cd1 may result from the impairment of 3-HOK conjugation with some proteins of the brain and head tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandr V Zhuravlev
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Pavlov Institute of Physiology Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Oleg V Vetrovoy
- Laboratory of Regulation of Brain Neuron Functions, Pavlov Institute of Physiology Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Polina N Ivanova
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Pavlov Institute of Physiology Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Humans and Animals, Faculty of Biology, Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elena V Savvateeva-Popova
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Pavlov Institute of Physiology Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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19
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Ertekin D, Kirszenblat L, Faville R, van Swinderen B. Down-regulation of a cytokine secreted from peripheral fat bodies improves visual attention while reducing sleep in Drosophila. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000548. [PMID: 32745077 PMCID: PMC7426065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep is vital for survival. Yet under environmentally challenging conditions, such as starvation, animals suppress their need for sleep. Interestingly, starvation-induced sleep loss does not evoke a subsequent sleep rebound. Little is known about how starvation-induced sleep deprivation differs from other types of sleep loss, or why some sleep functions become dispensable during starvation. Here, we demonstrate that down-regulation of the secreted cytokine unpaired 2 (upd2) in Drosophila flies may mimic a starved-like state. We used a genetic knockdown strategy to investigate the consequences of upd2 on visual attention and sleep in otherwise well-fed flies, thereby sidestepping the negative side effects of undernourishment. We find that knockdown of upd2 in the fat body (FB) is sufficient to suppress sleep and promote feeding-related behaviors while also improving selective visual attention. Furthermore, we show that this peripheral signal is integrated in the fly brain via insulin-expressing cells. Together, these findings identify a role for peripheral tissue-to-brain interactions in the simultaneous regulation of sleep quality and attention, to potentially promote adaptive behaviors necessary for survival in hungry animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Ertekin
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leonie Kirszenblat
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Richard Faville
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bruno van Swinderen
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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20
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Leismann J, Spagnuolo M, Pradhan M, Wacheul L, Vu MA, Musheev M, Mier P, Andrade-Navarro MA, Graille M, Niehrs C, Lafontaine DL, Roignant JY. The 18S ribosomal RNA m 6 A methyltransferase Mettl5 is required for normal walking behavior in Drosophila. EMBO Rep 2020; 21:e49443. [PMID: 32350990 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201949443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA modifications have recently emerged as an important layer of gene regulation. N6-methyladenosine (m6 A) is the most prominent modification on eukaryotic messenger RNA and has also been found on noncoding RNA, including ribosomal and small nuclear RNA. Recently, several m6 A methyltransferases were identified, uncovering the specificity of m6 A deposition by structurally distinct enzymes. In order to discover additional m6 A enzymes, we performed an RNAi screen to deplete annotated orthologs of human methyltransferase-like proteins (METTLs) in Drosophila cells and identified CG9666, the ortholog of human METTL5. We show that CG9666 is required for specific deposition of m6 A on 18S ribosomal RNA via direct interaction with the Drosophila ortholog of human TRMT112, CG12975. Depletion of CG9666 yields a subsequent loss of the 18S rRNA m6 A modification, which lies in the vicinity of the ribosome decoding center; however, this does not compromise rRNA maturation. Instead, a loss of CG9666-mediated m6 A impacts fly behavior, providing an underlying molecular mechanism for the reported human phenotype in intellectual disability. Thus, our work expands the repertoire of m6 A methyltransferases, demonstrates the specialization of these enzymes, and further addresses the significance of ribosomal RNA modifications in gene expression and animal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ludivine Wacheul
- RNA Molecular Biology, ULB Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Centre for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S.-FNRS), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Charleroi-Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Minh Anh Vu
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Pablo Mier
- Faculty of Biology, Johannes-Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Marc Graille
- BIOC, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, IP Paris, Palaiseau, France
| | - Christof Niehrs
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany.,Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Denis Lj Lafontaine
- RNA Molecular Biology, ULB Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Centre for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S.-FNRS), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Charleroi-Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Jean-Yves Roignant
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany.,Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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21
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Autophagy-dependent filopodial kinetics restrict synaptic partner choice during Drosophila brain wiring. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1325. [PMID: 32165611 PMCID: PMC7067798 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14781-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain wiring is remarkably precise, yet most neurons readily form synapses with incorrect partners when given the opportunity. Dynamic axon-dendritic positioning can restrict synaptogenic encounters, but the spatiotemporal interaction kinetics and their regulation remain essentially unknown inside developing brains. Here we show that the kinetics of axonal filopodia restrict synapse formation and partner choice for neurons that are not otherwise prevented from making incorrect synapses. Using 4D imaging in developing Drosophila brains, we show that filopodial kinetics are regulated by autophagy, a prevalent degradation mechanism whose role in brain development remains poorly understood. With surprising specificity, autophagosomes form in synaptogenic filopodia, followed by filopodial collapse. Altered autophagic degradation of synaptic building material quantitatively regulates synapse formation as shown by computational modeling and genetic experiments. Increased filopodial stability enables incorrect synaptic partnerships. Hence, filopodial autophagy restricts inappropriate partner choice through a process of kinetic exclusion that critically contributes to wiring specificity.
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22
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Rass M, Oestreich S, Manaj A, Schneuwly S. Loss of fuss in Drosophila melanogaster results in decreased locomotor activity due to an increased number of pauses. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2020; 2020:10.17912/micropub.biology.000230. [PMID: 32550504 PMCID: PMC7252353 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Rass
- Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Zoology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany ,
Correspondence to: Mathias Rass ()
| | - Svenja Oestreich
- Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Zoology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Ardi Manaj
- Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Zoology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Stephan Schneuwly
- Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Zoology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
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23
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Linneweber GA, Andriatsilavo M, Dutta SB, Bengochea M, Hellbruegge L, Liu G, Ejsmont RK, Straw AD, Wernet M, Hiesinger PR, Hassan BA. A neurodevelopmental origin of behavioral individuality in the Drosophila visual system. Science 2020; 367:1112-1119. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw7182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The genome versus experience dichotomy has dominated understanding of behavioral individuality. By contrast, the role of nonheritable noise during brain development in behavioral variation is understudied. Using Drosophila melanogaster, we demonstrate a link between stochastic variation in brain wiring and behavioral individuality. A visual system circuit called the dorsal cluster neurons (DCN) shows nonheritable, interindividual variation in right/left wiring asymmetry and controls object orientation in freely walking flies. We show that DCN wiring asymmetry instructs an individual’s object responses: The greater the asymmetry, the better the individual orients toward a visual object. Silencing DCNs abolishes correlations between anatomy and behavior, whereas inducing DCN asymmetry suffices to improve object responses.
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24
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Coelho DS, Schwartz S, Merino MM, Hauert B, Topfel B, Tieche C, Rhiner C, Moreno E. Culling Less Fit Neurons Protects against Amyloid-β-Induced Brain Damage and Cognitive and Motor Decline. Cell Rep 2019; 25:3661-3673.e3. [PMID: 30590040 PMCID: PMC6315112 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.11.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, impairing cognitive and motor functions. One of the pathological hallmarks of AD is neuronal loss, which is not reflected in mouse models of AD. Therefore, the role of neuronal death is still uncertain. Here, we used a Drosophila AD model expressing a secreted form of human amyloid-β42 peptide and showed that it recapitulates key aspects of AD pathology, including neuronal death and impaired long-term memory. We found that neuronal apoptosis is mediated by cell fitness-driven neuronal culling, which selectively eliminates impaired neurons from brain circuits. We demonstrated that removal of less fit neurons delays β-amyloid-induced brain damage and protects against cognitive and motor decline, suggesting that contrary to common knowledge, neuronal death may have a beneficial effect in AD. Peptides linked to neurodegenerative diseases reduce neuronal fitness in Drosophila β-amyloid-induced neuronal death is mediated by fitness regulators flower and azot Suppression of fitness-based neuronal culling aggravates cognitive and motor decline Neuronal death related to fitness-based selection has a beneficial net effect
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina S Coelho
- Cell Fitness Lab, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal; Institute for Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Schwartz
- Stem Cells and Regeneration Lab, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marisa M Merino
- Institute for Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Hauert
- Institute for Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Topfel
- Institute for Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Colin Tieche
- Institute for Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christa Rhiner
- Institute for Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Stem Cells and Regeneration Lab, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Eduardo Moreno
- Cell Fitness Lab, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal; Institute for Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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25
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Yen HH, Han R, Lo CC. Quantification of Visual Fixation Behavior and Spatial Orientation Memory in Drosophila melanogaster. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:215. [PMID: 31572145 PMCID: PMC6754076 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila Melanogaster has been shown to exhibit short-term orientation memory by fixating on orientations toward previously displayed visual landmarks. However, the fixation behavior varies and is often mixed with other types of movement. Therefore, carefully designed statistical measures are required in order to properly describe the characteristics of the fixation behavior and to quantify the orientation memory exhibited by the fruit flies. To this end, we propose a set of analytical methods. First, we defined the deviation angle which is used to quantify the deviation of the fruit fly's heading from the landmark positions. The deviation angle is defined based on the fruit fly's perspective and is able to reveal more task-relevant movement patterns than the commonly used definition which is based on the “observer's perspective.” We further introduce a temporal deviation angle plot which visually presents the complex movement pattern as a function of time. Next, we define the fixation index which tolerates fluctuation in the movement and performs better in quantifying the level of fixation behavior, or the orientation memory, than the conventional method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Hsiu Yen
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Rui Han
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Chuan Lo
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.,Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.,Brain Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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26
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Kirszenblat L, Yaun R, van Swinderen B. Visual experience drives sleep need in Drosophila. Sleep 2019; 42:zsz102. [PMID: 31100151 PMCID: PMC6612675 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsz102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep optimizes waking behavior, however, waking experience may also influence sleep. We used the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the relationship between visual experience and sleep in wild-type and mutant flies. We found that the classical visual mutant, optomotor-blind (omb), which has undeveloped horizontal system/vertical system (HS/VS) motion-processing cells and are defective in motion and visual salience perception, showed dramatically reduced and less consolidated sleep compared to wild-type flies. In contrast, optogenetic activation of the HS/VS motion-processing neurons in wild-type flies led to an increase in sleep following the activation, suggesting an increase in sleep pressure. Surprisingly, exposing wild-type flies to repetitive motion stimuli for extended periods did not increase sleep pressure. However, we observed that exposing flies to more complex image sequences from a movie led to more consolidated sleep, particularly when images were randomly shuffled through time. Our results suggest that specific forms of visual experience that involve motion circuits and complex, nonrepetitive imagery, drive sleep need in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Kirszenblat
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Rebecca Yaun
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Bruno van Swinderen
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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Scaplen KM, Mei NJ, Bounds HA, Song SL, Azanchi R, Kaun KR. Automated real-time quantification of group locomotor activity in Drosophila melanogaster. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4427. [PMID: 30872709 PMCID: PMC6418093 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40952-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in neurogenetics have highlighted Drosophila melanogaster as an exciting model to study neural circuit dynamics and complex behavior. Automated tracking methods have facilitated the study of complex behaviors via high throughput behavioral screening. Here we describe a newly developed low-cost assay capable of real-time monitoring and quantifying Drosophila group activity. This platform offers reliable real-time quantification with open source software and a user-friendly interface for data acquisition and analysis. We demonstrate the utility of this platform by characterizing ethanol-induced locomotor activity in a dose-dependent manner as well as the effects of thermo and optogenetic manipulation of ellipsoid body neurons important for ethanol-induced locomotor activity. As expected, low doses of ethanol induced an initial startle and slow ramping of group activity, whereas high doses of ethanol induced sustained group activity followed by sedation. Advanced offline processing revealed discrete behavioral features characteristic of intoxication. Thermogenetic inactivation of ellipsoid body ring neurons reduced group activity whereas optogenetic activation increased activity. Together, these data establish the fly Group Activity Monitor (flyGrAM) platform as a robust means of obtaining an online read out of group activity in response to manipulations to the environment or neural activity, with an opportunity for more advanced post-processing offline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M Scaplen
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University Providence, Providence, USA
| | - Nicholas J Mei
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University Providence, Providence, USA
| | - Hayley A Bounds
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University Providence, Providence, USA
| | - Sophia L Song
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University Providence, Providence, USA
| | - Reza Azanchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University Providence, Providence, USA
| | - Karla R Kaun
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University Providence, Providence, USA.
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Kirszenblat L, Ertekin D, Goodsell J, Zhou Y, Shaw PJ, van Swinderen B. Sleep regulates visual selective attention in Drosophila. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.191429. [PMID: 30355611 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.191429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Although sleep deprivation is known to impair attention in humans and other mammals, the underlying reasons are not well understood, and whether similar effects are present in non-mammalian species is not known. We therefore sought to investigate whether sleep is important for optimizing attention in an invertebrate species, the genetic model Drosophila melanogaster We developed a high-throughput paradigm to measure visual attention in freely walking Drosophila, using competing foreground/background visual stimuli. We found that whereas sleep-deprived flies could respond normally to either stimulus alone, they were more distracted by background cues in a visual competition task. Other stressful manipulations such as starvation, heat exposure and mechanical stress had no effects on visual attention in this paradigm. In contrast to sleep deprivation, providing additional sleep using the GABA-A agonist 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo-[5,4-c]pyridine-3-ol (THIP) did not affect attention in wild-type flies, but specifically improved attention in the learning mutant dunce Our results reveal a key function of sleep in optimizing attention processes in Drosophila, and establish a behavioral paradigm that can be used to explore the molecular mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Kirszenblat
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Deniz Ertekin
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Joseph Goodsell
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Yanqiong Zhou
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Paul J Shaw
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Bruno van Swinderen
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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29
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A simple computer vision pipeline reveals the effects of isolation on social interaction dynamics in Drosophila. PLoS Comput Biol 2018; 14:e1006410. [PMID: 30161262 PMCID: PMC6135522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolation profoundly influences social behavior in all animals. In humans, isolation has serious effects on health. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model to study small-scale, temporally-transient social behavior. However, longer-term analysis of large groups of flies is hampered by the lack of effective and reliable tools. We built a new imaging arena and improved the existing tracking algorithm to reliably follow a large number of flies simultaneously. Next, based on the automatic classification of touch and graph-based social network analysis, we designed an algorithm to quantify changes in the social network in response to prior social isolation. We observed that isolation significantly and swiftly enhanced individual and local social network parameters depicting near-neighbor relationships. We explored the genome-wide molecular correlates of these behavioral changes and found that whereas behavior changed throughout the six days of isolation, gene expression alterations occurred largely on day one. These changes occurred mostly in metabolic genes, and we verified the metabolic changes by showing an increase of lipid content in isolated flies. In summary, we describe a highly reliable tracking and analysis pipeline for large groups of flies that we use to unravel the behavioral, molecular and physiological impact of isolation on social network dynamics in Drosophila. Social isolation severely affects the behavior and physiology of social animals, including humans. The fruit fly is a powerful model for studying the mechanisms of development, health and disease and is also used to study social behaviors such as mating and aggression. However, these studies are limited to examining few individuals for shorts amounts of time, due to the lack of effective computational tools for the analysis of large groups over prolonged time. To overcome this hurdle, we built a new behavioral arena and developed new software that accurately tracks many flies simultaneously over long time periods. The arena is cheap and easy to build and the software works with low resolution videos. Using these improved tools, we studied social isolation in groups of male flies. We found that isolation caused flies to form stronger interactions with neighboring flies in their social network. These behavioral changes were preceded by transient changes in the expression of metabolism genes and eventually resulted in isolated flies accumulating fat, as has been previously observed in studies in mice and humans. Our study opens the door for the use of fruit flies in future studies of social isolation.
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The temporal sequence of improved mitochondrial function on the dynamics of respiration, mobility, and cognition in aged Drosophila. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 70:140-147. [PMID: 30007163 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Aging is associated with mitochondrial decline and reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production leading to cellular dysfunction, but this is improved by long-wavelength light absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase, increasing cytochrome c oxidase activity, ATP production and improving metabolism, sensory motor function, and cognition. Yet, the sequence of these events is unknown. We give old flies a single 90-minute 670-nm pulse and measure temporal sequences of changes in respiration, ATP, motor, and cognitive ability. Respiration increased significantly 20 minutes after light initiation and remained elevated for 4 days. Measurable ATP increased at 1 hour, peaking at 3 hours, and then declined rapidly. Respiration improved before ATP increased, which indicates an early ATP sink. Flies explore environments stereotypically, which is lost with aging but is reestablished for 7 hours after light exposure. However, again, there are improvements before there are peaks in ATP production. Improved mobility and cognitive function persist after ATP levels return to normal. Hence, elevated ATP in age may initiate independent signaling mechanisms that result in improvements in aged metabolism and function.
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31
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A biphasic locomotor response to acute unsignaled high temperature exposure in Drosophila. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198702. [PMID: 29883493 PMCID: PMC5993278 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Unsignaled stress can have profound effects on animal behavior. While most investigation of stress-effects on behavior follows chronic exposures, less is understood about acute exposures and potential after-effects. We examined walking activity in Drosophila following acute exposure to high temperature or electric shock. Compared to initial walking activity, flies first increase walking with exposure to high temperatures then have a strong reduction in activity. These effects are related to the intensity of the high temperature and number of exposures. The reduction in walking activity following high temperature and electric shock exposures survives context changes and lasts at least five hours. Reduction in the function of the biogenic amines octopamine / tyramine and serotonin both strongly blunt the increase in locomotor activity with high temperature exposure. However, neither set of biogenic amines alter the long lasting depression in walking activity after exposure.
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Rohde PD, Østergaard S, Kristensen TN, Sørensen P, Loeschcke V, Mackay TFC, Sarup P. Functional Validation of Candidate Genes Detected by Genomic Feature Models. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2018; 8:1659-1668. [PMID: 29519937 PMCID: PMC5940157 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the genetic underpinnings of complex traits requires knowledge of the genetic variants that contribute to phenotypic variability. Reliable statistical approaches are needed to obtain such knowledge. In genome-wide association studies, variants are tested for association with trait variability to pinpoint loci that contribute to the quantitative trait. Because stringent genome-wide significance thresholds are applied to control the false positive rate, many true causal variants can remain undetected. To ameliorate this problem, many alternative approaches have been developed, such as genomic feature models (GFM). The GFM approach tests for association of set of genomic markers, and predicts genomic values from genomic data utilizing prior biological knowledge. We investigated to what degree the findings from GFM have biological relevance. We used the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel to investigate locomotor activity, and applied genomic feature prediction models to identify gene ontology (GO) categories predictive of this phenotype. Next, we applied the covariance association test to partition the genomic variance of the predictive GO terms to the genes within these terms. We then functionally assessed whether the identified candidate genes affected locomotor activity by reducing gene expression using RNA interference. In five of the seven candidate genes tested, reduced gene expression altered the phenotype. The ranking of genes within the predictive GO term was highly correlated with the magnitude of the phenotypic consequence of gene knockdown. This study provides evidence for five new candidate genes for locomotor activity, and provides support for the reliability of the GFM approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Palle Duun Rohde
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
- The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Center for Integrative Sequencing, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Solveig Østergaard
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
| | - Torsten Nygaard Kristensen
- Section for Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Biology and Environmental Science, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Peter Sørensen
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
| | - Volker Loeschcke
- Section for Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Trudy F C Mackay
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
- Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
- W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
| | - Pernille Sarup
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
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Gilad T, Koren R, Moalem Y, Subach A, Scharf I. Effect of continuous and alternating episodes of starvation on behavior and reproduction in the red flour beetle. J Zool (1987) 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. Gilad
- School of Zoology; Faculty of Life Sciences; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv Israel
| | - R. Koren
- School of Zoology; Faculty of Life Sciences; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv Israel
| | - Y. Moalem
- School of Zoology; Faculty of Life Sciences; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv Israel
| | - A. Subach
- School of Zoology; Faculty of Life Sciences; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv Israel
| | - I. Scharf
- School of Zoology; Faculty of Life Sciences; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv Israel
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34
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Fuenzalida-Uribe N, Campusano JM. Unveiling the Dual Role of the Dopaminergic System on Locomotion and the Innate Value for an Aversive Olfactory Stimulus in Drosophila. Neuroscience 2018; 371:433-444. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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35
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Damrau C, Toshima N, Tanimura T, Brembs B, Colomb J. Octopamine and Tyramine Contribute Separately to the Counter-Regulatory Response to Sugar Deficit in Drosophila. Front Syst Neurosci 2018; 11:100. [PMID: 29379421 PMCID: PMC5775261 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2017.00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
All animals constantly negotiate external with internal demands before and during action selection. Energy homeostasis is a major internal factor biasing action selection. For instance, in addition to physiologically regulating carbohydrate mobilization, starvation-induced sugar shortage also biases action selection toward food-seeking and food consumption behaviors (the counter-regulatory response). Biogenic amines are often involved when such widespread behavioral biases need to be orchestrated. In mammals, norepinephrine (noradrenalin) is involved in the counterregulatory response to starvation-induced drops in glucose levels. The invertebrate homolog of noradrenalin, octopamine (OA) and its precursor tyramine (TA) are neuromodulators operating in many different neuronal and physiological processes. Tyrosine-ß-hydroxylase (tßh) mutants are unable to convert TA into OA. We hypothesized that tßh mutant flies may be aberrant in some or all of the counter-regulatory responses to starvation and that techniques restoring gene function or amine signaling may elucidate potential mechanisms and sites of action. Corroborating our hypothesis, starved mutants show a reduced sugar response and their hemolymph sugar concentration is elevated compared to control flies. When starved, they survive longer. Temporally controlled rescue experiments revealed an action of the OA/TA-system during the sugar response, while spatially controlled rescue experiments suggest actions also outside of the nervous system. Additionally, the analysis of two OA- and four TA-receptor mutants suggests an involvement of both receptor types in the animals' physiological and neuronal response to starvation. These results complement the investigations in Apis mellifera described in our companion paper (Buckemüller et al., 2017).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Damrau
- Neurobiologie, Fachbereich Biologie-Chemie-Pharmazie, Institut für Biologie - Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Naoko Toshima
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Systems Life Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Teiichi Tanimura
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Systems Life Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Björn Brembs
- Neurobiologie, Fachbereich Biologie-Chemie-Pharmazie, Institut für Biologie - Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Zoology - Neurogenetics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Julien Colomb
- Neurobiologie, Fachbereich Biologie-Chemie-Pharmazie, Institut für Biologie - Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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36
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Wexler Y, Scharf I. Distinct effects of two separately applied stressors on behavior in the red flour beetle. Behav Processes 2017; 145:86-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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37
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Persistent One-Way Walking in a Circular Arena in Drosophila melanogaster Canton-S Strain. Behav Genet 2017; 48:80-93. [DOI: 10.1007/s10519-017-9881-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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38
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Molina-Mateo D, Fuenzalida-Uribe N, Hidalgo S, Molina-Fernández C, Abarca J, Zárate RV, Escandón M, Figueroa R, Tevy MF, Campusano JM. Characterization of a presymptomatic stage in a Drosophila Parkinson's disease model: Unveiling dopaminergic compensatory mechanisms. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2017; 1863:2882-2890. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 06/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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39
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Geissmann Q, Garcia Rodriguez L, Beckwith EJ, French AS, Jamasb AR, Gilestro GF. Ethoscopes: An open platform for high-throughput ethomics. PLoS Biol 2017; 15:e2003026. [PMID: 29049280 PMCID: PMC5648103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2003026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we present the use of ethoscopes, which are machines for high-throughput analysis of behavior in Drosophila and other animals. Ethoscopes provide a software and hardware solution that is reproducible and easily scalable. They perform, in real-time, tracking and profiling of behavior by using a supervised machine learning algorithm, are able to deliver behaviorally triggered stimuli to flies in a feedback-loop mode, and are highly customizable and open source. Ethoscopes can be built easily by using 3D printing technology and rely on Raspberry Pi microcomputers and Arduino boards to provide affordable and flexible hardware. All software and construction specifications are available at http://lab.gilest.ro/ethoscope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Geissmann
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Esteban J. Beckwith
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alice S. French
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Arian R. Jamasb
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgio F. Gilestro
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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40
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Hidalgo S, Molina-Mateo D, Escobedo P, Zárate RV, Fritz E, Fierro A, Perez EG, Iturriaga-Vasquez P, Reyes-Parada M, Varas R, Fuenzalida-Uribe N, Campusano JM. Characterization of a Novel Drosophila SERT Mutant: Insights on the Contribution of the Serotonin Neural System to Behaviors. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:2168-2179. [PMID: 28665105 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A better comprehension on how different molecular components of the serotonergic system contribute to the adequate regulation of behaviors in animals is essential in the interpretation on how they are involved in neuropsychiatric and pathological disorders. It is possible to study these components in "simpler" animal models including the fly Drosophila melanogaster, given that most of the components of the serotonergic system are conserved between vertebrates and invertebrates. Here we decided to advance our understanding on how the serotonin plasma membrane transporter (SERT) contributes to serotonergic neurotransmission and behaviors in Drosophila. In doing this, we characterized for the first time a mutant for Drosophila SERT (dSERT) and additionally used a highly selective serotonin-releasing drug, 4-methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA), whose mechanism of action involves the SERT protein. Our results show that dSERT mutant animals exhibit an increased survival rate in stress conditions, increased basal motor behavior, and decreased levels in an anxiety-related parameter, centrophobism. We also show that 4-MTA increases the negative chemotaxis toward a strong aversive odorant, benzaldehyde. Our neurochemical data suggest that this effect is mediated by dSERT and depends on the 4-MTA-increased release of serotonin in the fly brain. Our in silico data support the idea that these effects are explained by specific interactions between 4-MTA and dSERT. In sum, our neurochemical, in silico, and behavioral analyses demonstrate the critical importance of the serotonergic system and particularly dSERT functioning in modulating several behaviors in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Hidalgo
- Laboratorio
Neurogenética de la Conducta, Departamento de Biología
Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda #340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela Molina-Mateo
- Laboratorio
Neurogenética de la Conducta, Departamento de Biología
Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda #340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pía Escobedo
- Laboratorio
Neurogenética de la Conducta, Departamento de Biología
Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda #340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rafaella V. Zárate
- Laboratorio
Neurogenética de la Conducta, Departamento de Biología
Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda #340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Elsa Fritz
- Laboratorio
Neurogenética de la Conducta, Departamento de Biología
Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda #340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Angélica Fierro
- Facultad
de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda #340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Edwin G. Perez
- Facultad
de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda #340, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Miguel Reyes-Parada
- Escuela
de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad
de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Varas
- Facultad
de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca, Chile
| | - Nicolás Fuenzalida-Uribe
- Laboratorio
Neurogenética de la Conducta, Departamento de Biología
Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda #340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge M. Campusano
- Laboratorio
Neurogenética de la Conducta, Departamento de Biología
Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda #340, Santiago, Chile
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41
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Gris KV, Coutu JP, Gris D. Supervised and Unsupervised Learning Technology in the Study of Rodent Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:141. [PMID: 28804452 PMCID: PMC5532435 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantifying behavior is a challenge for scientists studying neuroscience, ethology, psychology, pathology, etc. Until now, behavior was mostly considered as qualitative descriptions of postures or labor intensive counting of bouts of individual movements. Many prominent behavioral scientists conducted studies describing postures of mice and rats, depicting step by step eating, grooming, courting, and other behaviors. Automated video assessment technologies permit scientists to quantify daily behavioral patterns/routines, social interactions, and postural changes in an unbiased manner. Here, we extensively reviewed published research on the topic of the structural blocks of behavior and proposed a structure of behavior based on the latest publications. We discuss the importance of defining a clear structure of behavior to allow professionals to write viable algorithms. We presented a discussion of technologies that are used in automated video assessment of behavior in mice and rats. We considered advantages and limitations of supervised and unsupervised learning. We presented the latest scientific discoveries that were made using automated video assessment. In conclusion, we proposed that the automated quantitative approach to evaluating animal behavior is the future of understanding the effect of brain signaling, pathologies, genetic content, and environment on behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsiaryna V Gris
- Gris Lab of Neuroimmunology, Pediatrics, University of SherbrookeSherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Coutu
- Gris Lab of Neuroimmunology, Pediatrics, University of SherbrookeSherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Denis Gris
- Gris Lab of Neuroimmunology, Pediatrics, University of SherbrookeSherbrooke, QC, Canada
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42
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Corthals K, Heukamp AS, Kossen R, Großhennig I, Hahn N, Gras H, Göpfert MC, Heinrich R, Geurten BRH. Neuroligins Nlg2 and Nlg4 Affect Social Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:113. [PMID: 28740469 PMCID: PMC5502276 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The genome of Drosophila melanogaster includes homologs to approximately one-third of the currently known human disease genes. Flies and humans share many biological processes, including the principles of information processing by excitable neurons, synaptic transmission, and the chemical signals involved in intercellular communication. Studies on the molecular and behavioral impact of genetic risk factors of human neuro-developmental disorders [autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, and Tourette syndrome] increasingly use the well-studied social behavior of D. melanogaster, an organism that is amenable to a large variety of genetic manipulations. Neuroligins (Nlgs) are a family of phylogenetically conserved postsynaptic adhesion molecules present (among others) in nematodes, insects, and mammals. Impaired function of Nlgs (particularly of Nlg 3 and 4) has been associated with ASDs in humans and impaired social and communication behavior in mice. Making use of a set of behavioral and social assays, we, here, analyzed the impact of two Drosophila Nlgs, Dnlg2 and Dnlg4, which are differentially expressed at excitatory and inhibitory central nervous synapses, respectively. Both Nlgs seem to be associated with diurnal activity and social behavior. Even though deficiencies in Dnlg2 and Dnlg4 appeared to have no effects on sensory or motor systems, they differentially impacted on social interactions, suggesting that social behavior is distinctly regulated by these Nlgs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Corthals
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alina Sophia Heukamp
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Robert Kossen
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Isabel Großhennig
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nina Hahn
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Heribert Gras
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Martin C Göpfert
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ralf Heinrich
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bart R H Geurten
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Ferguson L, Petty A, Rohrscheib C, Troup M, Kirszenblat L, Eyles DW, van Swinderen B. Transient Dysregulation of Dopamine Signaling in a Developing Drosophila Arousal Circuit Permanently Impairs Behavioral Responsiveness in Adults. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:22. [PMID: 28243212 PMCID: PMC5304146 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The dopamine ontogeny hypothesis for schizophrenia proposes that transient dysregulation of the dopaminergic system during brain development increases the likelihood of this disorder in adulthood. To test this hypothesis in a high-throughput animal model, we have transiently manipulated dopamine signaling in the developing fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and examined behavioral responsiveness in adult flies. We found that either a transient increase of dopamine neuron activity or a transient decrease of dopamine receptor expression during fly brain development permanently impairs behavioral responsiveness in adults. A screen for impaired responsiveness revealed sleep-promoting neurons in the central brain as likely postsynaptic dopamine targets modulating these behavioral effects. Transient dopamine receptor knockdown during development in a restricted set of ~20 sleep-promoting neurons recapitulated the dopamine ontogeny phenotype, by permanently reducing responsiveness in adult animals. This suggests that disorders involving impaired behavioral responsiveness might result from defective ontogeny of sleep/wake circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan Ferguson
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, QLD , Australia
| | - Alice Petty
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, QLD , Australia
| | - Chelsie Rohrscheib
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, QLD , Australia
| | - Michael Troup
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, QLD , Australia
| | - Leonie Kirszenblat
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, QLD , Australia
| | - Darryl W Eyles
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, QLD, Australia
| | - Bruno van Swinderen
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, QLD , Australia
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Gorostiza EA, Colomb J, Brembs B. A decision underlies phototaxis in an insect. Open Biol 2016; 6:160229. [PMID: 28003472 PMCID: PMC5204122 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.160229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Like a moth into the flame-phototaxis is an iconic example for innate preferences. Such preferences probably reflect evolutionary adaptations to predictable situations and have traditionally been conceptualized as hard-wired stimulus-response links. Perhaps for that reason, the century-old discovery of flexibility in Drosophila phototaxis has received little attention. Here, we report that across several different behavioural tests, light/dark preference tested in walking is dependent on various aspects of flight. If we temporarily compromise flying ability, walking photopreference reverses concomitantly. Neuronal activity in circuits expressing dopamine and octopamine, respectively, plays a differential role in photopreference, suggesting a potential involvement of these biogenic amines in this case of behavioural flexibility. We conclude that flies monitor their ability to fly, and that flying ability exerts a fundamental effect on action selection in Drosophila This work suggests that even behaviours which appear simple and hard-wired comprise a value-driven decision-making stage, negotiating the external situation with the animal's internal state, before an action is selected.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Axel Gorostiza
- Institute of Zoology-Neurogenetics, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, Regensburg 93040, Germany
| | - Julien Colomb
- Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 28/30, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Björn Brembs
- Institute of Zoology-Neurogenetics, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, Regensburg 93040, Germany
- Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 28/30, Berlin 14195, Germany
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Ehaideb SN, Wignall EA, Kasuya J, Evans WH, Iyengar A, Koerselman HL, Lilienthal AJ, Bassuk AG, Kitamoto T, Manak JR. Mutation of orthologous prickle genes causes a similar epilepsy syndrome in flies and humans. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2016; 3:695-707. [PMID: 27648459 PMCID: PMC5018582 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Genetically tractable fruit flies have been used for decades to study seizure disorders. However, there is a paucity of data specifically correlating fly and human seizure phenotypes. We have previously shown that mutation of orthologous PRICKLE genes from flies to humans produce seizures. This study aimed to determine whether the prickle-mediated seizure phenotypes in flies closely parallel the epilepsy syndrome found in PRICKLE patients. METHODS Virtually all fly seizure studies have relied upon characterizing seizures that are evoked. We have developed two novel approaches to more precisely characterize seizure-related phenotypes in their native state in prickle mutant flies. First, we used high-resolution videography to document spontaneous, unprovoked seizure events. Second, we developed a locomotion coordination assay to assess whether the prickle mutant flies were ataxic. Third, we treated the mutant flies with levetiracetam to determine whether the behavioral phenotypes could be suppressed by a common antiepileptic drug. RESULTS We find that the prickle mutant flies exhibit myoclonic-like spontaneous seizure events and are severely ataxic. Both these phenotypes are found in human patients with PRICKLE mutations, and can be suppressed by levetiracetam, providing evidence that the phenotypes are due to neurological dysfunction. These results document for the first time spontaneous, unprovoked seizure events at high resolution in a fly human seizure disorder model, capturing seizures in their native state. INTERPRETATION Collectively, these data underscore the striking similarities between the fly and human PRICKLE-mediated epilepsy syndromes, and provide a genetically tractable model for dissecting the underlying causes of the human syndromic phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salleh N Ehaideb
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa; King Abdullah International Medical Research Cente rKing Abdulaziz Medical City Riyadh Saudi Arabia; Department of Biology University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa
| | | | - Junko Kasuya
- Department of Anesthesia University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa
| | | | - Atulya Iyengar
- Department of Biology University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa
| | | | | | | | - Toshihiro Kitamoto
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa; Department of Anesthesia University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa
| | - J Robert Manak
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa; Department of Biology University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa; Department of Pediatrics University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa
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46
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Wexler Y, Subach A, Pruitt JN, Scharf I. Behavioral repeatability of flour beetles before and after metamorphosis and throughout aging. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2098-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Locomotion Induced by Spatial Restriction in Adult Drosophila. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135825. [PMID: 26351842 PMCID: PMC4564261 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila adults display an unwillingness to enter confined spaces but the behaviors induced by spatial restriction in Drosophila are largely unknown. We developed a protocol for high-throughput analysis of locomotion and characterized features of locomotion in a restricted space. We observed intense and persistent locomotion of flies in small circular arenas (diameter 1.27 cm), whereas locomotion was greatly reduced in large circular arenas (diameter 3.81 cm). The increased locomotion induced by spatial restriction was seen in male flies but not female flies, indicating sexual dimorphism of the response to spatial restriction. In large arenas, male flies increased locomotion in arenas previously occupied by male but not female individuals. In small arenas, such pre-conditioning had no effect on male flies, which showed intense and persistent locomotion similar to that seen in fresh arenas. During locomotion with spatial restriction, wildtype Canton-S males traveled slower and with less variation in speed than the mutant w1118 carrying a null allele of white gene. In addition, wildtype flies showed a stronger preference for the boundary than the mutant in small arenas. Genetic analysis with a series of crosses revealed that the white gene was not associated with the phenotype of boundary preference in wildtype flies.
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Girdhar K, Gruebele M, Chemla YR. The Behavioral Space of Zebrafish Locomotion and Its Neural Network Analog. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128668. [PMID: 26132396 PMCID: PMC4489106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
How simple is the underlying control mechanism for the complex locomotion of vertebrates? We explore this question for the swimming behavior of zebrafish larvae. A parameter-independent method, similar to that used in studies of worms and flies, is applied to analyze swimming movies of fish. The motion itself yields a natural set of fish "eigenshapes" as coordinates, rather than the experimenter imposing a choice of coordinates. Three eigenshape coordinates are sufficient to construct a quantitative "postural space" that captures >96% of the observed zebrafish locomotion. Viewed in postural space, swim bouts are manifested as trajectories consisting of cycles of shapes repeated in succession. To classify behavioral patterns quantitatively and to understand behavioral variations among an ensemble of fish, we construct a "behavioral space" using multi-dimensional scaling (MDS). This method turns each cycle of a trajectory into a single point in behavioral space, and clusters points based on behavioral similarity. Clustering analysis reveals three known behavioral patterns—scoots, turns, rests—but shows that these do not represent discrete states, but rather extremes of a continuum. The behavioral space not only classifies fish by their behavior but also distinguishes fish by age. With the insight into fish behavior from postural space and behavioral space, we construct a two-channel neural network model for fish locomotion, which produces strikingly similar postural space and behavioral space dynamics compared to real zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Girdhar
- Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States of America
| | - Martin Gruebele
- Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States of America
- Department of Physics, Center for the Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, 61801, United States of America
- * E-mail: (YRC); (MG)
| | - Yann R. Chemla
- Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States of America
- Department of Physics, Center for the Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States of America
- * E-mail: (YRC); (MG)
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Freeman AA, Dai H, Sanyal S. Use of Drosophila to Study Restless Legs Syndrome. Mov Disord 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-405195-9.00078-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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50
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Zenger B, Wetzel S, Duncan J. Acquisition of high-quality digital video of Drosophila larval and adult behaviors from a lateral perspective. J Vis Exp 2014:e51981. [PMID: 25350294 DOI: 10.3791/51981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful experimental model system for studying the function of the nervous system. Gene mutations that cause dysfunction of the nervous system often produce viable larvae and adults that have locomotion defective phenotypes that are difficult to adequately describe with text or completely represent with a single photographic image. Current modes of scientific publishing, however, support the submission of digital video media as supplemental material to accompany a manuscript. Here we describe a simple and widely accessible microscopy technique for acquiring high-quality digital video of both Drosophila larval and adult phenotypes from a lateral perspective. Video of larval and adult locomotion from a side-view is advantageous because it allows the observation and analysis of subtle distinctions and variations in aberrant locomotive behaviors. We have successfully used the technique to visualize and quantify aberrant crawling behaviors in third instar larvae, in addition to adult mutant phenotypes and behaviors including grooming.
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