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Amino acids activate parallel chemosensory pathways in Drosophila
Jacqueline Guillemin1, Grace Davis1, Kayla Audette1
1Department of Biology, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, United States.
Chemical Senses
|September 19, 2025
Summary
Fruit flies use sweet taste cells to detect attractive amino acids (AAs) and bitter taste cells for aversion, revealing key mechanisms for nutrient sensing and feeding behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Biology
- Insect Behavior
Background:
- Amino acids (AAs) are vital nutrients influencing organismal fitness.
- Mechanisms of AA detection and their role in driving feeding behavior are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify taste cells and receptors involved in initiating feeding responses to amino acids and peptides in Drosophila.
- To elucidate the cellular and molecular basis of attraction and aversion to tryptone, a glutamate-rich AA mixture.
Main Methods:
- In vivo calcium imaging to monitor neural activity in taste cells.
- Proboscis extension response assay to measure feeding behavior.
- Genetic manipulation of taste receptors and cells.
Main Results:
- Tryptone-induced attraction is mediated by sweet taste cells.
- Feeding aversion to tryptone is concentration-dependent and involves Ionotropic Receptor 94e (IR94e) and bitter cells.
- Confirmed roles for IR76b, IR51b, and IR94e in AA detection within specific cell types.
- Identified a novel role for the appetitive IR56d receptor and bitter gustatory receptors in sensing tryptone.
Conclusions:
- Established a cellular and molecular framework for amino acid and peptide feeding initiation in Drosophila.
- Highlighted redundancy in aversive pathways regulating amino acid feeding behavior.
