Transcriptional profiling of Drosophila male-specific P1 neurons

In Drosophila melanogaster, the P1 cluster of male-specific neurons both integrates sensory cues and drives or modulates behavioral programs such as courtship, in addition to contributing to a social arousal state. The behavioral function of these neurons is linked to the genes they express, which underpin their capacity for synaptic signaling, neuromodulation, and physiology. Yet, P1 neurons have not been fully characterized at the transcriptome level. Moreover, it is unknown how the molecular landscape of P1 neurons acutely changes after flies engage in social behaviors, where baseline P1 neural activity is expected to increase. To address these two gaps, we use single cell-type RNA sequencing to profile and compare the transcriptomes of P1 neurons harvested from socially paired versus solitary male flies. Compared to wholehead transcriptome datasets, we find that P1 neurons are enriched in 2,665 genes, including those encoding receptors, neuropeptides, and cell-adhesion molecules (dprs/DIPs). Furthermore, courtship is characterized by changes in ∼300 genes, including those previously implicated in regulating behavior (e.g. DopEcR, Octß3R, Fife, kairos, rad). Finally, we identify a suite of genes that potentially link conspecific courtship with the innate immune system. Together, these data serve as a molecular map for future studies of an important set of higher-order and sexually-dimorphic neurons.