The peacefulness gene promotes aggression in Drosophila

Mol Brain. 2019 Jan 3;12(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s13041-018-0417-0.

Abstract

Natural aggressiveness is commonly observed in all animal species, and is displayed frequently when animals compete for food, territory and mating. Aggression is an innate behaviour, and is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. However, the genetics of aggression remains largely unclear. In this study, we identify the peacefulness (pfs) gene as a novel player in the control of male-male aggression in Drosophila. Mutations in pfs decreased intermale aggressiveness, but did not affect locomotor activity, olfactory avoidance response and sexual behaviours. pfs encodes for the evolutionarily conserved molybdenum cofactor (MoCo) synthesis 1 protein (Mocs1), which catalyzes the first step in the MoCo biosynthesis pathway. Neuronal-specific knockdown of pfs decreased aggressiveness. By contrast, overexpression of pfs greatly increased aggressiveness. Knocking down Cinnamon (Cin) catalyzing the final step in the MoCo synthesis pathway, caused a pfs-like aggression phenotype. In humans, inhibition of MoCo-dependent enzymes displays anti-aggressive effects. Thus, the control of aggression by Pfs-dependent MoCo pathways may be conserved throughout evolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aggression / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Avoidance Learning
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Carbon-Carbon Lyases
  • Coenzymes / biosynthesis
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / physiology*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Genes, Insect*
  • Male
  • Metalloproteins / biosynthesis
  • Molybdenum Cofactors
  • Motor Activity
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional / genetics
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Pteridines
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal
  • Smell / physiology

Substances

  • Coenzymes
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Metalloproteins
  • Molybdenum Cofactors
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Pteridines
  • molybdenum cofactor
  • Carbon-Carbon Lyases
  • Mocs1 protein, Drosophila

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