Title: | ppk23-Dependent chemosensory functions contribute to courtship behavior in Drosophila melanogaster |
Author(s): | Lu B; LaMora A; Sun Y; Welsh MJ; Ben-Shahar Y; |
Address: | "Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA" |
DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002587 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1553-7404 (Electronic) 1553-7390 (Print) 1553-7390 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Insects utilize diverse families of ion channels to respond to environmental cues and control mating, feeding, and the response to threats. Although degenerin/epithelial sodium channels (DEG/ENaC) represent one of the largest families of ion channels in Drosophila melanogaster, the physiological functions of these proteins are still poorly understood. We found that the DEG/ENaC channel ppk23 is expressed in a subpopulation of sexually dimorphic gustatory-like chemosensory bristles that are distinct from those expressing feeding-related gustatory receptors. Disrupting ppk23 or inhibiting activity of ppk23-expressing neurons did not alter gustatory responses. Instead, blocking ppk23-positive neurons or mutating the ppk23 gene delayed the initiation and reduced the intensity of male courtship. Furthermore, mutations in ppk23 altered the behavioral response of males to the female-specific aphrodisiac pheromone 7(Z), 11(Z)-Heptacosadiene. Together, these data indicate that ppk23 and the cells expressing it play an important role in the peripheral sensory system that determines sexual behavior in Drosophila" |
Keywords: | "Alkadienes/pharmacology Animals Animals, Genetically Modified *Courtship *Drosophila Proteins/genetics/metabolism *Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/physiology Female Gene Expression Regulation *Ion Channels/genetics/metabolism Male Mutation Neurons/metabo;" |
Notes: | "MedlineLu, Beika LaMora, Angela Sun, Yishan Welsh, Michael J Ben-Shahar, Yehuda eng 5R03DC010244/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R03 DC010244-02/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R03 DC010244/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R03 DC010244-01/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/ R03 DC010244-03/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2012/03/23 PLoS Genet. 2012; 8(3):e1002587. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002587. Epub 2012 Mar 15" |