Social experience and pheromone receptor activity reprogram gene expression in sensory neurons

Area of Science:

• Neurobiology
• Behavioral Genetics
• Insect Communication

Background:

• Social experience and pheromone signaling influence Drosophila male courtship behaviors.
• The fruitless gene is crucial for male sexual behaviors and mediates experience-dependent modulation of neuronal responses.
• Molecular mechanisms underlying social context-dependent changes in neuronal responses are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify molecular mechanisms driving social experience-dependent changes in neuronal responses to pheromones in Drosophila.
• To investigate the role of the fruitless gene and pheromone receptors in modulating gene expression in olfactory neurons.

Main Methods:

• RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on antennal samples from Drosophila mutants (pheromone receptors, fruitless) and wild-type males (grouped or isolated).
• Analysis focused on differential gene regulation, promoter and exon usage, and Fruitless-binding sites.
• Investigated genes related to neuronal physiology, function, and juvenile hormone metabolism.

Main Results:

• Numerous genes affecting neuronal physiology and function, including neurotransmitter receptors, ion channels, transporters, and odorant binding proteins, are differentially regulated by social context and pheromone signaling.
• While loss of pheromone detection had minor effects on fruitless gene regulation, many differentially regulated genes are bound by Fruitless.
• Genes involved in juvenile hormone metabolism were also misregulated across different social contexts and mutant backgrounds.

Conclusions:

• Social experience and pheromone signaling induce large-scale transcriptional changes in olfactory neurons, affecting neuronal function and behavior.
• These changes are downstream of the behavioral switch gene fruitless and involve modulation of neuronal activity.
• Juvenile hormone signaling may interact with social experience and fruitless to regulate pheromone responses.