Octopamine Neuromodulation Regulates Gr32a-Linked Aggression and Courtship Pathways in Drosophila Males

Andrews, Jonathan C.; Fernández, María Paz; Yu, Qin; Leary, Gregory Patrick; Leung, Adelaine Kwun-Wai; Kavanaugh, Michael P.; Kravitz, Edward A.; Certel, Sarah J.

doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1004356

Cited by 91 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Since then, considerable progress has been made in understanding its expression and regulation (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26). In competition for food resources and territory, male-male agonistic encounters, composed of stereotyped behavioral patterns, usually result in the formation of dominance relationships (9).…”

Section: Drosophila Melanogastermentioning

confidence: 99%

Short and long-lasting behavioral consequences of agonistic encounters between male Drosophila melanogaster

Trannoy

Penn

Lucey

et al. 2016

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

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In many animal species, learning and memory have been found to play important roles in regulating intra-and interspecific behavioral interactions in varying environments. In such contexts, aggression is commonly used to obtain desired resources. Previous defeats or victories during aggressive interactions have been shown to influence the outcome of later contests, revealing loser and winner effects. In this study, we asked whether short-and/or long-term behavioral consequences accompany victories and defeats in dyadic pairings between male Drosophila melanogaster and how long those effects remain. The results demonstrated that single fights induced important behavioral changes in both combatants and resulted in the formation of short-term loser and winner effects. These decayed over several hours, with the duration depending on the level of familiarity of the opponents. Repeated defeats induced a long-lasting loser effect that was dependent on de novo protein synthesis, whereas repeated victories had no long-term behavioral consequences. This suggests that separate mechanisms govern the formation of loser and winner effects. These studies aim to lay a foundation for future investigations exploring the molecular mechanisms and circuitry underlying the nervous system changes induced by winning and losing bouts during agonistic encounters.loser/winner effects | aggression | learning and memory | behavior | Drosophila melanogaster

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Section: Drosophila Melanogastermentioning

confidence: 99%

Short and long-lasting behavioral consequences of agonistic encounters between male Drosophila melanogaster

Trannoy

Penn

Lucey

et al. 2016

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

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“…The taste receptor Gr32a is located on the first pair of legs ( Figure 1E). D. melanogaster males lacking the gene encoding the Gr32a receptor court females from other species (Fan et al, 2013), court males from their own species (Miyamoto and Amrein, 2008) and have reduced aggression toward conspecific males (Wang et al, 2011;Andrews et al, 2014). Gr32a − mutant males are insensitive to 7-T indicating that Gr32a is a receptor for that pheromone (Wang et al, 2011).…”

Section: Cuticular Hydrocarbons Are Detected In Part By the Gustatorymentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of cVA and the Odorant binding protein Lush in social and sexual behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

Billeter¹,

Levine

2015

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Social living is beneficial because it allows conspecifics to interact in ways that increase their chances of survival and reproduction. A key mechanism underlying these benefits is the ability to recognize conspecifics; thus, allowing the production of coordinated social interactions. Identification of such individuals is often through chemical communication: the individuals' pheromonal profile indicates their sex, species, and even past experiences. However, we know little about how the chemosensory system of conspecifics detects and how the nervous system processes this information. One of the best documented pheromonal detection mechanisms is that of cis-Vaccenyl Acetate (cVA) made by male Drosophila melanogaster and transferred to females during mating. Sensing of cVA by males inhibits courtship behavior toward already mated females. Sensing of cVA on other males also inhibits courtship and increases aggression. In this hybrid review/research article, we discuss the pheromonal system of Drosophila putting an emphasis on the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in cVA sensing by the olfactory system, perception by the nervous system and ultimately the regulation of social interactions. The behavioral effect of cVA is context-as well as experience-dependent leading us to conclude that cVA plays a modulatory role in regulating social interactions rather than being a recognition pheromone. We also provide new behavioral data on the function of the Odorant Binding Protein Lush, which binds cVA in olfactory sensilla and help sensing this chemical. Our data indicate that lush may be involved in the sensing of additional pheromones to cVA and suggest the existence of a lush-independent cVA detection system. Interpretation of our data in the light of our current knowledge about pheromonal recognition in Drosophila indicates that this system is incompletely understood.

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“…Drosophila male aggression is highly influenced by the monoamine neurotransmitter octopamine (43). Alterations to OCT have been shown to reduce aggressive latency in male Drosophila (49). Using HPLC, total OCT levels (pg/head) were determined in 5-day-old Wolbachia-infected Drosophila flies and compared to levels in their genetically paired Wolbachia-free controls (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wolbachia Influences the Production of Octopamine and Affects Drosophila Male Aggression

Rohrscheib

Bondy

Josh

et al. 2015

Appl Environ Microbiol

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f Wolbachia bacteria are endosymbionts that infect approximately 40% of all insect species and are best known for their ability to manipulate host reproductive systems. Though the effect Wolbachia infection has on somatic tissues is less well understood, when present in cells of the adult Drosophila melanogaster brain, Wolbachia exerts an influence over behaviors related to olfaction. Here, we show that a strain of Wolbachia influences male aggression in flies, which is critically important in mate competition. A specific strain of Wolbachia was observed to reduce the initiation of aggressive encounters in Drosophila males compared to the behavior of their uninfected controls. To determine how Wolbachia was able to alter aggressive behavior, we investigated the role of octopamine, a neurotransmitter known to influence male aggressive behavior in many insect species. Transcriptional analysis of the octopamine biosynthesis pathway revealed that two essential genes, the tyrosine decarboxylase and tyramine ␤-hydroxylase genes, were significantly downregulated in Wolbachia-infected flies. Quantitative chemical analysis also showed that total octopamine levels were significantly reduced in the adult heads. Male aggression is an important social behavior common throughout the animal kingdom. Aggressive behaviors are utilized to secure food, mates, and territory; these, in turn, ensure reproductive success and species propagation (1). An interplay between environmental influences, together with epigenetic and genetic factors (acting through neurotransmitters, hormones, and pheromones), shapes and influences behaviors in animals (2-6). Recently, evidence of the importance of microbial symbionts in directly manipulating host behavior, often by altering neurotransmitter levels in the brain (7-11), has changed the manner in which behavior is viewed. Inherited microbes exert such a strong effect that they, in addition to genetics/epigenetics and the surrounding environment, have been described as a third major determinant of behaviors (12).Wolbachia bacteria are reproductive endosymbiotic alphaproteobacteria and are the most common intracellular bacteria on Earth, infecting filarial nematodes, arachnids, and at least 40% of all insect species, including the model insect, Drosophila melanogaster (13-16). Wolbachia bacteria are maternally transmitted and are best known for their ability to manipulate host sex determination or reproductive systems in order to promote germ line transmission (17, 18). Wolbachia bacteria have also been shown to influence host metabolic pathways (19-21), provide protection from pathogens (22, 23), influence host life span (24), and play a role in host speciation events (25).Wolbachia infections have been correlated to changes in behaviors, including male mating frequencies (11), mate discrimination (26), and responses to olfactory cues (27)(28)(29). Wolbachia can also induce host selective mate avoidance, i.e., causing the host to avoid mates harboring another, incompatible symbiont variant, which ...

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Octopamine Neuromodulation Regulates Gr32a-Linked Aggression and Courtship Pathways in Drosophila Males

Cited by 91 publications

References 66 publications

Short and long-lasting behavioral consequences of agonistic encounters between male Drosophila melanogaster

Short and long-lasting behavioral consequences of agonistic encounters between male Drosophila melanogaster

The role of cVA and the Odorant binding protein Lush in social and sexual behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

Wolbachia Influences the Production of Octopamine and Affects Drosophila Male Aggression

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