Behavioral Analyses of Sugar Processing in Choice, Feeding, and Learning in Larval Drosophila

Schipanski, Angela; Yarali, Ayse; Niewalda, Thomas; Gerber, Bertram

doi:10.1093/chemse/bjn024

Cited by 65 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Perhaps some IRs in the pharynx recognize certain key molecules only after they have been unmasked in transit toward the pharynx. Another possibility is that IRs and Grs have different dynamic ranges (e.g., they recognize the same tastants but with different sensitivities), possibly reflecting different roles in reflexive behaviors vs. gustatory learning (31)(32)(33).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Candidate ionotropic taste receptors in the Drosophila larva

Stewart

Koh

Ghosh

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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We examine in Drosophila a group of ∼35 ionotropic receptors (IRs), the IR20a clade, about which remarkably little is known. Of 28 genes analyzed, GAL4 drivers representing 11 showed expression in the larva. Eight drivers labeled neurons of the pharynx, a taste organ, and three labeled neurons of the body wall that may be chemosensory. Expression was not observed in neurons of one taste organ, the terminal organ, although these neurons express many drivers of the Gr (Gustatory receptor) family. For most drivers of the IR20a clade, we observed expression in a single pair of cells in the animal, with limited coexpression, and only a fraction of pharyngeal neurons are labeled. The organization of IR20a clade expression thus appears different from the organization of the Gr family or the Odor receptor (Or) family in the larva. A remarkable feature of the larval pharynx is that some of its organs are incorporated into the adult pharynx, and several drivers of this clade are expressed in the pharynx of both larvae and adults. Different IR drivers show different developmental dynamics across the larval stages, either increasing or decreasing. Among neurons expressing drivers in the pharynx, two projection patterns can be distinguished in the CNS. Neurons exhibiting these two kinds of projection patterns may activate different circuits, possibly signaling the presence of cues with different valence. Taken together, the simplest interpretation of our results is that the IR20a clade encodes a class of larval taste receptors.taste | ionotropic receptors | taste receptors | larva

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Candidate ionotropic taste receptors in the Drosophila larva

Stewart

Koh

Ghosh

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…This behavioral dimorphism, reminiscent of preference towards salt, which is preferred at low and disliked at high concentrations [5052], might result from the balance between the attractive (palatability, nutrition) and unattractive characteristics (viscosity, stickiness) of the solution [53]. Therefore, in our neural modulating experiments, we mainly used 10 mmol L 1 sucrose solution, which is sweet enough to induce feeding but not too sweet to inhibit feeding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of neurons responsible for feeding behavior in the Drosophila brain

Sun

Wang

Zhou

et al. 2014

Sci. China Life Sci.

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Drosophila melanogaster feeds mainly on rotten fruits, which contain many kinds of sugar. Thus, the sense of sweet taste has evolved to serve as a dominant regulator and driver of feeding behavior. Although several sugar receptors have been described, it remains poorly understood how the sensory input is transformed into an appetitive behavior. Here, we used a neural silencing approach to screen brain circuits, and identified neurons labeled by three Gal4 lines that modulate Drosophila feeding behavior. These three Gal4 lines labeled neurons mainly in the suboesophageal ganglia (SOG), which is considered to be the fly's primary taste center. When we blocked the activity of these neurons, flies decreased their sugar consumption significantly. In contrast, activation of these neurons resulted in enhanced feeding behavior and increased food consumption not only towards sugar, but to an array of food sources. Moreover, upon neuronal activation, the flies demonstrated feeding behavior even in the absence of food, which suggests that neuronal activation can replace food as a stimulus for feeding behavior. These findings indicate that these Gal4-labeled neurons, which function downstream of sensory neurons and regulate feeding behavior towards different food sources is necessary in Drosophila feeding control.feeding behavior, sugar-sensing neurons, SOG, CAFE assay, proboscis extension response (PER) Citation:Sun F, Wang YJ, Zhou YQ, van Swinderen B, Gong ZF, Liu L. Identification of neurons responsible for feeding behavior in the Drosophila brain.

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“…You therefore need to compare experimentally naïve animals of the different genotypes in terms of (1) their preference between fructose and plain agarose (see Hendel et al 2005;Niewalda et al 2008;or Schipanski et al 2008 for how to do this), (2) their preference between an AM-filled and an empty container, as well as (3) their preference between an OCT-filled and an empty container.…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Odor–Taste Learning Assays in Drosophila Larvae

Gerber¹,

Biernacki²,

Thum³

2013

Cold Spring Harb Protoc

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The Drosophila larva is an emerging model for studies in behavioral neurogenetics because of its simplicity in terms of cell number. Despite this simplicity, basic features of neuronal organization and key behavior faculties are shared with adult flies and with mammals. Here, we describe a Pavlovian-type learning assay in fruit fly larvae. A group of larvae is sequentially exposed to specific odors in the presence or the absence of sugar, and then tested to determine whether they prefer the odor previously experienced with the reward. The protocol uses a two-group, reciprocal training design: One group of Drosophila larvae is exposed to n-amyl acetate (AM) with a sugar reward (+), then subsequently exposed to 1-octanol (OCT) with no reward (denoted AM+/OCT). The other group receives the reciprocal training (AM/OCT+). The two groups of larvae are then tested for their choices between AM and OCT. Relatively higher preferences for AM after AM+/OCT training than after AM/ OCT+ training reflect associative learning and are quantified by the learning index (LI). This method offers a robust, simple, cheap, and reasonably quick test for learning ability (an aversive version is available as well, using either high-concentration salt or quinine as punishment). With the concerted efforts of the Drosophila research community, we anticipate it will allow us to unravel the full circuitry underlying odor-taste learning on a single-cell level. MATERIALSIt is essential that you consult the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheets and your institution's Environmental Health and Safety Office for proper handling of equipment and hazardous materials used in this protocol. ReagentsAgarose, 1% solution in distilled water Agarose, 1% solution, supplemented with 2 M fructose or sucrose Drosophila larvaeFlies are reared in culture bottles at 25˚C, with a relative atmospheric humidity of 60%-70% and with a 14/10-h light/dark cycle. Five-day-old larvae are used (90-120 h after egg laying); in particular, only larvae that are still in the food paste, and not larvae that may have begun to crawl up the side of the glass (known as the "wandering stage"), should be used for the learning assay.

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Behavioral Analyses of Sugar Processing in Choice, Feeding, and Learning in Larval Drosophila

Cited by 65 publications

References 16 publications

Candidate ionotropic taste receptors in the Drosophila larva

Candidate ionotropic taste receptors in the Drosophila larva

Identification of neurons responsible for feeding behavior in the Drosophila brain

Odor–Taste Learning Assays in Drosophila Larvae

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