Behavioral and Cytogenetic Analysis of the cacophony Courtship Song Mutant and Interacting Genetic Variants in Drosophila melanogaster

Genetics ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-475
Author(s):  
Shankar J Kulkarni ◽  
Jeffrey C Hall
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Distal Part ◽  
Courtship Song ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Lethal Mutations ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Chromosomal Breakpoints

ABSTRACT The courtship song of a Drosophila melanogaster male consists of tone pulses interspersed with humming sounds. An X chromosomal mutation, cacophony (cac), causes the production of polycyclic pulses readily distinguishable from those in wild type, which are mono- or bicyclic. Yet, courtship hums and flight wing beats are normal in this mutant, suggesting a specific role of the cac gene in the neural program underlying one particular feature of the fly's wing vibrations. A precise cytogenetic localization of cac is presented; this was obtained by uncovering the song abnormality with deletions that are missing all or the distal part of region 11A; the flies tested were diplo-X adults that had been turned into males by the transformer mutation. Duplications including distal 11A covered cac. The possibility of behavioral specificity for cac's effects was examined by screening a variety of sexual and nonsexual behaviors; these experiments included tests of flies in which the mutation was uncovered by a small deletion. We conclude that cac causes only a limited array of well-defined defects: longer and louder tone pulses in the song and depressed locomotor activity. Further complementation tests involving cac and other closely linked genetic variants-the night-blind-A (nbA) visual mutation, l(1) L13 lethal mutations, and a series of X chromosomal breakpoints-suggested complex interactions among these factors: the breakpoints uncover all three types of mutations; cac and nbA appear to be alleles of l(1)L13, whereas the two behavioral mutations complement each other

Neurotensin Enhances Locomotor Activity and Arousal and Inhibits Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Signaling

2019 ◽  
Vol 110 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 35-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talia Levitas-Djerbi ◽  
Dana Sagi ◽  
Ilana Lebenthal-Loinger ◽  
Tali Lerer-Goldshtein ◽  
Lior Appelbaum
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Hormone Receptor ◽  
Behavioral Response ◽  
Hormone Signaling ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Melanin Concentrating Hormone ◽  
Behavioral Assays

Background: Hypothalamic neurotensin (Nts)-secreting neurons regulate fundamental physiological processes including metabolism and feeding. However, the role of Nts in modulation of locomotor activity, sleep, and arousal is unclear. We previously identified and characterized Nts neurons in the zebrafish hypothalamus. Materials and Methods: In order to study the role of Nts, nts mutant (nts–/–), and overexpressing zebrafish were generated. Results: The expression of both nts mRNA and Nts protein was reduced during the night in wild-type zebrafish. Behavioral assays revealed that locomotor activity was decreased during both day and night, while sleep was increased exclusively during the nighttime in nts–/– larvae. Likewise, inducible overexpression of Nts increased arousal in hsp70:Gal4/uas:Nts larvae. Furthermore, the behavioral response to light-to-dark transitions was reduced in nts–/– larvae. In order to elucidate potential contenders that may mediate Nts action on these behaviors, we profiled the transcriptome of 6 dpf nts–/– larvae. Among other genes, the expression levels of melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1b were increased in nts–/– larvae. Furthermore, a portion of promelanin-concentrating hormone 1 (pmch1) and pmch2 neurons expressed the nts receptor. In addition, expression of the the two zebrafish melanin-concentrating hormone (Mch) orthologs, Mch1 and Mch2, was increased in nts–/– larvae. Conclusion: These results show that the Nts and Mch systems interact and modulate locomotor activity and arousal.

The development of the sensory neuron pattern in the antennal disc of wild-type and mutant (lz3, ssa) Drosophila melanogaster

Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 1063-1075
Author(s):  
M.C. Lienhard ◽  
R.F. Stocker
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Sensory Neuron ◽  
Antennal Segment ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Homeotic Mutant ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Antennal Disc ◽  
Antennal Nerve

The development of the sensory neuron pattern in the antennal disc of Drosophila melanogaster was studied with a neuron-specific monoclonal antibody (22C10). In the wild type, the earliest neurons become visible 3 h after pupariation, much later than in other imaginal discs. They lie in the center of the disc and correspond to the neurons of the adult aristal sensillum. Their axons join the larval antennal nerve and seem to establish the first connection towards the brain. Later on, three clusters of neurons appear in the periphery of the disc. Two of them most likely give rise to the Johnston's organ in the second antennal segment. Neurons of the olfactory third antennal segment are formed only after eversion of the antennal disc (clusters t1-t3). The adult pattern of antennal neurons is established at about 27% of metamorphosis. In the mutant lozenge3 (lz3), which lacks basiconic antennal sensilla, cluster t3 fails to develop. This indicates that, in the wild type, a homogeneous group of basiconic sensilla is formed by cluster t3. The possible role of the lozenge gene in sensillar determination is discussed. The homeotic mutant spineless-aristapedia (ssa) transforms the arista into a leg-like tarsus. Unlike leg discs, neurons are missing in the larval antennal disc of ssa. However, the first neurons differentiate earlier than in normal antennal discs. Despite these changes, the pattern of afferents in the ectopic tarsus appears leg specific, whereas in the non-transformed antennal segments a normal antennal pattern is formed. This suggests that neither larval leg neurons nor early aristal neurons are essential for the outgrowth of subsequent afferents.

scholarly journals Chemoreceptivity of Drosophila melanogaster

1946 ◽  
Vol 133 (870) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Olfactory Response ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Pit Organ ◽  
Chemical Stimuli ◽  
Thermal Stimuli

The occurrence of mutants of Drosophila melanogaster distinguished by the absence or structural modification of the antennae provides a means of assessing the role of the antennae with respect to the reception of various classes of stimuli. Antennaless ( A 0 ) phenotypes of antennaless stock fail to respond to those chemical stimuli which lead the fly to its food. Their temperature reactions are normal, and their humidity responses are opposite to those of somatically wild-type flies of the same stock or of wild-type controls. Aristapedia ( ss a ), which have leg-like antennae equipped with surface pegs and cones of supposed sensory function present in the normal antenna but absent in the normal leg, respond to chemical stimuli and humidity differences. As compared with that of normal flies, the olfactory response of aristapedia ( ss a ) is somewhat less intense, the humidity reaction being somewhat stronger. These mutants do not give the characteristic responses evoked by thermal stimuli both in normal flies and antennaless phenotypes. The outstanding histological differences between the structure of the antenna of aristapedia and that of wild-type flies is the absence of the pit organ. It thus seems that the pit organ is not essential to the olfactory response and plays no essential part in the humidity response. Since antennaless ( A 0 ) responds normally to thermal stimuli, none of the putative sense organs of the antennae are essential to the recognition of temperature differences, and since aristapedia ( ss a ) responds more weakly to chemical stimuli than do normal flies, the pit organs may well be long-distance chemoreceptors. What is more certain is that either the peg-like organs or the cones on the surface of the distal joint of the antennae or both are chemoreceptors. The same remark is equally applicable to the perception of humidity differences. Experiments here recorded do not justify the identification of the function of one or other type of sensilla with one or the other type of receptivity. While it is unjustifiable to exclude the possibility that short-distance chemical stimuli play a part in the attraction of flies of opposite sex, it appears that the main role of chemoreceptivity in relation to the mating behaviour of D. melanogaster is to ensure the aggregation of flies of both sexes in situations where food is available and sexual congress can be evoked by other forms of stimulation.

Courtship song in Drosophila melanogaster: a differential effect on male–female locomotor activity

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (8) ◽  
pp. 1258-1266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solange Kowalski ◽  
Thierry Aubin ◽  
Jean-René Martin
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Species Recognition ◽  
Courtship Song ◽  
Video Tracking ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Sexual Stimulation ◽  
Video Tracking System ◽  
Accurate Quantification

The courtship song of male Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1830 is involved in species recognition and sexual stimulation. This signal is usually addressed to the female to reduce her locomotor activity, thereby facilitating copulation. However, no accurate quantification of her locomotion has been made. To examine the effect of courtship song on locomotor behaviour of both sexes, we used a video-tracking system that allowed for the quantification of two indicators of activity level: distance moved and movement duration. First, we showed that the broadcast of the courtship song alone produced no effect on female locomotion. Females reduced their locomotor activity only when acoustical stimulation was placed in a natural courtship context (i.e., in the presence of a male). This suggests that the sum of visual, tactile, acoustic, and chemical stimuli provided by the male may act together to trigger female receptivity. Second, our playback experiments showed a strong stimulating effect of courtship song (particularly of the pulse component) on the locomotor activity of isolated males, suggesting that this signal probably plays a role in male stimulation. Courtship song has an opposite effect on male/female locomotor activity in D. melanogaster.

scholarly journals Analysis of embryonic mortality frequency in Drosophila melanogaster stocks with radius incompletus mutation under inbreeding conditions

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Embryonic Mortality ◽  
Total Frequency ◽  
Lethal Mutations ◽  
Dominant Lethal ◽  
Dominant Lethal Mutations ◽  
External Conditions ◽  
High Level ◽  
Selection Of

It is known that inbreeding leads to homozygotization of alleles of the most genes. The rate of this process is determined by the degree of kinship between crossed individuals. In addition, inbred breeding is accompanied by a change in the structure and functioning of the genome of cells of females’ generative system: mutational level increases and oogenetic segregation may be violated. This leads to a decrease in the number of laid eggs and an increase in the level of embryonic mortality. This process, described as "the effect of resistance to selection," is aimed at adapting to external conditions and associated with the selection of viable offspring. The character of manifestations of mutational variability is determined to a large extent by the direction of selection. However, up to now our knowledge of the role of the genotype in controlling the level of embryonic mortality in Drosophila melanogaster stocks in conditions of inbred breeding is not deep enough. The purpose of our work was to analyze the frequency of dominant lethal mutations in Drosophila stocks from radiation-contaminated regions of Ukraine (Polesskoe and Ozero), carrying radius incompletus mutation, depending on the degree of inbreeding. It is shown that under conditions of severe inbreeding (without selection) changes in the total frequency of dominant lethal mutations have a cyclic character, which depends on the genotype of the stocks. So, in radius incompletus stock, the indicator studied increases after 10 generations of selection and remains at enough high level for 20 generations. For the stocks from radiation-contaminated territories of Ukraine with radius incompletus mutation, which are contrasting in the level of embryonic mortality, two decrease peaks are shown (for the stock ri(Oz) – after 5 and 65 generations of inbreeding) and an increase (for the line ri(Pol) – after 5 and 32 generations of inbreeding) of the total frequency of dominant lethal mutations. The main factor influencing the change in the mortality level at the stage of early embryogenesis in Drosophila carrying radius incompletus mutation is the genotype of the stocks that are used in the work. It’s contribution increases after 10 (h2gen=44.78), 15 (h2gen=45.86) and 100 (h2gen=46.36) generations of inbreeding. The effect of inbred breeding was observed after 32 (h2inbr=22.61) and 65 (h2inbr=11.89) generations. The combined effect of both factors on the total frequency of dominant lethal mutations is shown for each of the generations studied. The highest values were shown after the 5th (h2comb=53.86) and the 65th (h2comb =40.63) generations of inbred breeding.

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS DFOXO, DSIR2 AND HSP70 IN LIFESPAN ALTERATION OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER IN DIFFERENT LIGHT CONDITIONS

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 67-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksey A Moskalev ◽  
Olga A Malysheva
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Stress Response ◽  
Life Span ◽  
Light Regime ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Stress Response Genes ◽  
Significant Difference

It was investigated the role of stress-response genes (dFOXO, dSir2, Hsp70) in regulation of life span of Drosophila in response to light regime alteration. It was revealed the FOXO-dependant mechanism of lifespan increasing at darkness conditions. The distance of lifespan of FOXO homozygous mutants at different light conditions were absent 3 times from 4 times. It was shown, that homozygotes with deletion of dSir2 have more significant difference between lifespan at standard light and darkness conditions with comparing to wild type and heterozygous strain. The same tendency was also detected the in the strains with Hsp70 deletions. It was produced the evidences of two mechanisms of light regime influence on lifespan: metabolism intensification at light conditions and neuroendocrine-determinated lifespan increasing at darkness conditions.

scholarly journals Stress-induced Cdk5 activity enhances cytoprotective basal autophagy in Drosophila melanogaster by phosphorylating acinus at serine437

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilay Nandi ◽  
Lauren K Tyra ◽  
Drew Stenesen ◽  
Helmut Krämer
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Nuclear Protein ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Alpha Synuclein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gain Of Function ◽  
Mitotic Kinase

Cdk5 is a post-mitotic kinase with complex roles in maintaining neuronal health. The various mechanisms by which Cdk5 inhibits and promotes neurodegeneration are still poorly understood. Here, we show that in Drosophila melanogaster Cdk5 regulates basal autophagy, a key mechanism suppressing neurodegeneration. In a targeted screen, Cdk5 genetically interacted with Acinus (Acn), a primarily nuclear protein, which promotes starvation-independent, basal autophagy. Loss of Cdk5, or its required cofactor p35, reduces S437-Acn phosphorylation, whereas Cdk5 gain-of-function increases pS437-Acn levels. The phospho-mimetic S437D mutation stabilizes Acn and promotes basal autophagy. In p35 mutants, basal autophagy and lifespan are reduced, but restored to near wild-type levels in the presence of stabilized AcnS437D. Expression of aggregation-prone polyQ-containing proteins or the Amyloid-β42 peptide, but not alpha-Synuclein, enhances Cdk5-dependent phosphorylation of S437-Acn. Our data indicate that Cdk5 is required to maintain the protective role of basal autophagy in the initial responses to a subset of neurodegenerative challenges.

scholarly journals Male courtship song drives escape responses that are suppressed for successful mating

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliane Arez ◽  
Cecilia Mezzera ◽  
Ricardo M. Neto-Silva ◽  
Márcia M. Aranha ◽  
Sophie Dias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escape Response ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Courtship Song ◽  
Male Courtship ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
Escape Responses ◽  
Sexually Mature

AbstractPersuasion is a crucial component of the courtship ritual needed to overcome contact aversion. In fruit flies, it is well established that the male courtship song prompts receptivity in female flies, in part by causing sexually mature females to slow down and pause, allowing copulation. Whether the above receptivity behaviours require the suppression of contact avoidance or escape remains unknown. Here we show, through genetic manipulation of neurons we identified as required for female receptivity, that male song induces avoidance/escape responses that are suppressed in wild type flies. First, we show that silencing 70A09 neurons leads to an increase in escape, as females increase their walking speed during courtship together with an increase in jumping and a reduction in pausing. The increase in escape response is specific to courtship, as escape to a looming threat is not intensified. Activation of 70A09 neurons leads to pausing, confirming the role of these neurons in escape modulation. Finally, we show that the escape displays by the female result from the presence of a courting male and more specifically from the song produced by a courting male. Our results suggest that courtship song has a dual role, promoting both escape and pause in females and that escape is suppressed by the activity of 70A09 neurons, allowing mating to occur.

THE NONMUTAGENIC ACTION OF p-p′-DDT AND γ-HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER MEIG. (DIPTERA: DROSOPHILIDAE)

1952 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 375-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Pielou
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Selective Breeding ◽  
Larval Feeding ◽  
Mutagenic Action ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Recessive Lethal ◽  
Lethal Mutations ◽  
Insecticide Tolerance ◽  
Feeding Medium ◽  
Insect Parasites

As experiments are in progress on selective breeding for insecticide tolerance in insect parasites and as various physiologically potent chemicals have been shown to cause mutation in Drosophila melanogaster Meig., tests were made to determine whether p-p′-DDT and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane had any mutagenic action. Wild type males of D. melanogaster that had been exposed to the former insecticide in their larval feeding medium, or, as adults, to the vapor of the latter insecticide, were tested. The Muller-5 method of detecting recessive lethal mutations in the X chromosome was used. No evidence of mutagenic action was found in either insecticidal isomer.

scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF THE AUTOSOMAL MUTATION abo AND ITS INTERACTION WITH THE RIBOSOMAL DNA OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER: THE ROLE OF X-CHROMOSOME HETEROCHROMATIN

Genetics ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 661-672
Author(s):  
Barry Yedvobnick ◽  
Hallie M Krider ◽  
Bryan I Levine
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
Autosomal Recessive ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
X Chromosomes ◽  
Cr Functions ◽  
Chromosome Inversions ◽  
Ratio Distortion ◽  
Sex Ratio Distortion

ABSTRACT The autosomal recessive, maternal-effect mutation abnormal oocyte (abo: 2-38) preferentially lowers the viability of XO progeny. The severity of the sex-ratio distortion is reduced by duplications of maternal or zygotic heterochromatin chromatin (SANDLER 1970, 1977; PARRY and SANDLER 1974). Utilizing X-chromosome inversions that contain modifications in the quantity and arrangement of the heterochromatic functions, Xhabo and cr  +, we have extended our investigations of nbo's influence on XO male recovery and rDNA redundancy (KRIDER,YEDVOBNICK and LEVINE 1979).——XO males bearing In(1)scs1Lsc4R or In(1)wm4Lsc4R are recovered twice as frequently as X chromosomes containing a single Xh region, implying that these inversions possess a duplication of Xhabo. abo mutant females heterozygous for In(1)scs1Lsc4R and wild-type X chromosomes generate XO progeny that do not contain elevated rDNA redundancies. XO males containing In(1)wm4 exhibit male recoveries and rDNA elevations similar to those of males bearing a wild-type X chromosome, when both derive from a common abo/abo mother. Reciprocal crosses between In(1)wm4 and Canton-S males to attached-X abo females show significant, though reduced, sex ratios in the absence of an rDNA effect. The observation that abo can elevate the rDNA redundancy of In(1)wm4, a chromosome that does not compensate, suggests that abo and cr+ functions are not directly related.

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