Control of the postmating behavioral switch in Drosophila females by internal sensory neurons.
Published
Journal Article
Mating induces changes in the receptivity and egg-laying behavior in Drosophila females, primarily due to a peptide pheromone called sex peptide which is transferred with the sperm into the female reproductive tract during copulation. Whereas sex peptide is generally believed to modulate fruitless-GAL4-expressing neurons in the central nervous system to produce behavioral changes, we found that six to eight sensory neurons on the reproductive tract labeled by both ppk-GAL4 and fruitless-GAL4 can sense sex peptide to control the induction of postmating behaviors. In these sensory neurons, sex peptide appears to act through Pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins and suppression of protein kinase A activity to reduce synaptic output. Our results uncover a neuronal mechanism by which sex peptide exerts its control over reproductive behaviors in Drosophila females.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Yang, C-H; Rumpf, S; Xiang, Y; Gordon, MD; Song, W; Jan, LY; Jan, Y-N
Published Date
- February 26, 2009
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 61 / 4
Start / End Page
- 519 - 526
PubMed ID
- 19249273
Pubmed Central ID
- 19249273
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1097-4199
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.12.021
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States