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Measuring and Altering Mating Drive in Male Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: February 15, 2017
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Obp56h Modulates Mating Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster
John R Shorter1, Lauren M Dembeck1, Logan J Everett1
1Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
G3 (Bethesda, Md.)
|August 26, 2016
Summary
Reducing Obp56h gene expression in fruit flies enhances mating behavior. This involves changes in cuticular hydrocarbons, including less 5-tricosene, a male pheromone that delays mating.
Area of Science:
- Insect chemical communication
- Olfactory mechanisms in Drosophila
Background:
- Social interactions in insects rely on chemical signals detected by olfactory and gustatory neurons.
- Odorant binding proteins (Obps) facilitate odorant transport to chemosensory receptors, but their behavioral roles are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Obp56h in Drosophila melanogaster mating behavior.
- To determine the effects of Obp56h knockdown on chemical signaling and behavior.
Main Methods:
- RNA interference (RNAi) to knock down Obp56h gene expression.
- Analysis of mating behavior, including courtship latency.
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to profile cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs).
- Whole genome RNA sequencing to assess gene expression changes.
Main Results:
- RNAi knockdown of Obp56h significantly reduced courtship latency, enhancing mating behavior.
- Obp56h inhibition led to reduced levels of 5-tricosene (5-T), a male-inhibitory pheromone.
- Gene expression analysis revealed altered transcript levels for other chemoreception genes (lush, Obp83ef, Obp19b, Or19b) and lipid metabolism genes.
- Obp56h expression was confirmed to be nearly abolished in the heads of treated flies.
Conclusions:
- Obp56h plays a role in modulating Drosophila mating behavior.
- Reduced Obp56h expression alters cuticular hydrocarbon profiles, specifically decreasing the inhibitory pheromone 5-T.
- Obp56h is implicated as a potential binding protein for 5-T, influencing pheromone perception and mating success.
