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Evolved differences in larval social behavior mediated by novel pheromones.

Joshua D Mast1, Consuelo M De Moraes2, Hans T Alborn3

  • 1Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States.

Elife
|December 16, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Fruit flies use newly discovered fatty acid pheromones to communicate during larval stages. This identifies a novel larval chemosensory neuron and specific pickpocket channel subunits crucial for detecting these social signals.

Keywords:
Drosophila sechelliaDrosophila simulansevolutionevolutionary biologygenomicsmelanogasterneurosciencepheromonepheromone receptorsocial behavior

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Chemical Ecology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Pheromones are vital chemical signals mediating social behaviors in insects.
  • Larval behavior in Drosophila is suspected to be pheromone-influenced, but specific compounds and receptors remain unidentified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the specific pheromones and sensory pathways involved in larval Drosophila social communication.
  • To characterize the molecular components of this newly discovered larval pheromone system.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of novel long-chain fatty acids produced by larvae.
  • Characterization of a specific larval chemosensory neuron responsible for detecting these fatty acids.
  • Genetic analysis using pickpocket (ppk) family DEG/ENaC channel subunits (ppk23 and ppk29) to determine their role in pheromone response.

Main Results:

  • Two novel long-chain fatty acids were identified as attractive larval pheromones.
  • A single larval chemosensory neuron was found to detect these specific fatty acid pheromones.
  • The pickpocket subunits PPK23 and PPK29 are essential for responding to these larval pheromones.

Conclusions:

  • A novel larval pheromone signaling pathway in Drosophila has been elucidated.
  • This system involves specific fatty acid pheromones, a dedicated sensory neuron, and pickpocket channel subunits.
  • Rapid evolution of this pheromone system is suggested by species-specific differences in larval attractiveness.