To sense myriad environmental odors, animals have evolved multiple, large families of divergent olfactory receptors. How and why distinct receptor repertoires their associated circuits are functionally anatomically integrated is essentially unknown. We addressed these questions through comprehensive comparative analysis the Drosophila subsystems that express ionotropic receptors (IRs) odorant (ORs). identify ligands for most IR neuron classes, revealing specificity select amines acids, which...

We hypothesized that cystine/glutamate transporters (xCTs) might be critical regulators of ambient extracellular glutamate levels in the nervous system and misregulation this pool have important neurophysiological and/or behavioral consequences. To test idea, we identified functionally characterized a novel Drosophila xCT gene, which subsequently named “ genderblind ” ( gb ). Genderblind is expressed previously overlooked subset peripheral central glia. Genetic elimination causes 50%...

Insects encounter a vast repertoire of chemicals in their natural environment, which can signal positive stimuli like the presence food source, potential mate, or suitable oviposition site as well negative such competitors, predators, toxic substances reflecting danger. The specialized chemoreceptors taste and olfactory receptors allow animals to detect at short long distances accordingly, trigger proper behaviors towards these stimuli. Since first description Drosophila fifteen years ago,...

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) cause late-onset, autosomal dominant familial Parkinson`s disease (PD) and variation at the LRRK2 locus contributes to risk for idiopathic PD. can function as a protein mutations lead increased activity. To elucidate pathophysiological mechanism of R1441C mutation GTPase domain LRRK2, we expressed human wild-type or dopaminergic neurons Drosophila observe reduced locomotor activity, impaired survival an age-dependent degeneration thereby...

The evolution of communication is a fundamental biological problem. genetic control the signal and its reception must be tightly coadapted, especially in inter–individual sexual communication. However, there very little experimental evidence for tight linkage connecting emission reception. We found that single genomic transposon inserted desat1 gene Drosophila melanogaster simultaneously affected perception sex–specific signals. This mutation greatly decreased production unsaturated...

Dietary leucine has been suspected to play an important role in insulin release, a hormone that controls satiety and metabolism. The mechanism by which insulin-producing cells (IPCs) sense regulate secretion is still poorly understood. In Drosophila, insulin-like peptides (DILP2 DILP5) are produced brain IPCs released the hemolymph after ingestion. Using Ca(2+)-imaging ex vivo cultured larval brains, we demonstrate can directly extracellular levels via minidiscs (MND), transporter. MND...

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential nutrients for animals and necessary the normal functioning of nervous system. A lack PUFAs can result from consumption a deficient diet or genetic factors, which impact PUFA uptake metabolism. Both cause synaptic dysfunction, is associated with numerous disorders. However, there knowledge gap linking these neuronal dysfunctions their underlying molecular mechanisms. Because its manipulability easy, fast, cheap breeding, Drosophila...

When facing microbes, animals engage in behaviors that lower the impact of infection. We previously demonstrated internal sensing bacterial peptidoglycan reduces Drosophila female oviposition via NF-κB pathway activation some neurons (Kurz et al., 2017). Although we showed neuromodulator octopamine is implicated, identity involved neurons, as well physiological mechanism blocking egg-laying, remained unknown. In this study, identified few ventral nerve cord and brain octopaminergic...

Behavior evolution can promote the emergence of agricultural pests by changing their ecological niche. For example, insect pest Drosophila suzukii has shifted its oviposition (egg-laying) niche from fermented fruits to ripe, non-fermented fruits, causing significant damage a wide range fruit crops worldwide. We investigate chemosensory changes underlying this evolutionary shift and ask whether sugars, which are depleted during fermentation, important gustatory cues that direct D. sweet, ripe...

Abstract The survival of animals depends, among other things, on their ability to identify threats in surrounding environment. Senses such as olfaction, vision and taste play an essential role sampling living environment, including microorganisms, some which are potentially pathogenic. This study focuses the mechanisms detection bacteria by Drosophila gustatory system. We demonstrate that peptidoglycan (PGN) forms cell wall triggers immediate feeding aversive response when detected system...

Brain sparing protects growth of the central nervous system (CNS) at expense other developing organs during nutrient restriction. This survival strategy is conserved from Drosophila to mammals but little known about its underlying metabolic mechanisms. Here, we show that CNS uptake and catabolism circulating glutamine essential for neural stem cell proliferation brain not normal development. Glutamine imported into perineurial glia blood-brain-barrier, which upregulate glutaminase (Gls)...

One of the most widely used transgenic animal models in biology is Drosophila melanogaster, fruit fly. Chemical information from this exceedingly small organism usually accomplished by studying populations to attain sample volumes suitable for standard analysis methods. This paper describes a direct sampling technique capable obtaining 50−300 nL hemolymph individual larvae. Hemolymph performed under mineral oil and air at 30 s intervals up 120 after piercing larvae revealed that effect...

Odors are key sensory signals for social communication and food search in animals including insects. Drosophila melanogaster, is a powerful neurogenetic model commonly used to reveal molecular cellular mechanisms involved odorant detection. Males use olfaction together with other modalities find their mates. Here, we review known olfactory signals, related receptors, the corresponding neuronal architecture impacting courtship. OR67d receptor detects 11-cis-Vaccenyl Acetate (cVA), male...

Abstract Insulin is present all across the animal kingdom. Its proper release after feeding of extraordinary importance for nutrient uptake, regulation metabolism, and growth. We used Drosophila melanogaster to shed light on processes linking dietary leucine intake insulin secretion. The genome encodes 8 insulin-like peptides (“Dilps”). Of these, Dilp2 secreted ingestion a leucine-containing diet. previously demonstrated that Minidiscs, related mammalian system-L transporters, acts as sensor...

Changes in synaptic physiology underlie neuronal network plasticity and behavioral phenomena, which are adjusted during development. The Drosophila larval glutamatergic neuromuscular junction (NMJ) represents a powerful model to investigate factors impacting these processes. Amino acids such as glutamate have been shown regulate NMJ by modulating the clustering of postsynaptic receptors thereby regulating strength signal transmission from motor neuron muscle cell. To identify amino acid...

Animals use their sensory system to detect cues in external environment, then communicate, process, and integrate these through the nervous order elicit a specific response. Taste is an important cue used by animals explore environment can modulate various aspects of animal behavior physiology. A major ongoing challenge for respond presence variety pathogens environment. However, date, links between response pathogenic threats remain poorly understood. Here we show that Drosophila larvae...

Microorganisms inhabiting fermenting fruit produce chemicals that elicit strong behavioral responses in flies. Depending on their ecological niche, individuals confer a positive or negative valence to chemical and, accordingly, they trigger either attractive repulsive behaviors. We studied the case of bacterial short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) opposite behaviors adult and larvae Drosophila melanogaster. determined SCFA-attractive depend two larval exclusive chemoreceptors, Or30a Or94b. Of...

Detecting signals from the environment is essential for animals to ensure their survival. To this aim, they use environmental cues such as vision, mechanoreception, hearing, and chemoperception through taste, via direct contact or olfaction, which represents response a volatile molecule acting at longer range. Volatile chemical molecules are very important most in detection of danger, source food, communicate between individuals. Drosophila melanogaster one common biological models...

In Drosophila, ecdysone hormone levels determine the timing of larval development. Its production is regulated by stereotypical rise in prothoracicotropic (PTTH) levels. Additionally, can also be modulated nutrition (specifically amino acids) through their action on Drosophila insulin-like peptides (Dilps). Moreover, glia, amino-acid-sensitive Dilps regulates brain this work, we describe function an SLC7 acid transporter, Sobremesa (Sbm). Larvae with reduced Sbm glia remain third instar for...