Abstract
Mating induces changes in the receptivity and egg-laying behavior in Drosophila females, primarily due to a peptide pheromone called sex peptide which is transferred with the sperm into the female reproductive tract during copulation. Whereas sex peptide is generally believed to modulate fruitless-GAL4-expressing neurons in the central nervous system to produce behavioral changes, we found that six to eight sensory neurons on the reproductive tract labeled by both ppk-GAL4 and fruitless-GAL4 can sense sex peptide to control the induction of postmating behaviors. In these sensory neurons, sex peptide appears to act through Pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins and suppression of protein kinase A activity to reduce synaptic output. Our results uncover a neuronal mechanism by which sex peptide exerts its control over reproductive behaviors in Drosophila females.
Publication types
-
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Cloning, Molecular
-
Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / physiology
-
Drosophila / physiology*
-
Drosophila Proteins / genetics
-
Drosophila Proteins / physiology
-
Enzyme Activation / physiology
-
Female
-
Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
-
Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology
-
Immunohistochemistry
-
Male
-
Phenotype
-
Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / biosynthesis
-
Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / genetics
-
Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology*
-
Signal Transduction / physiology
-
Sodium Channels / genetics
-
Sodium Channels / physiology
Substances
-
Drosophila Proteins
-
Kir2.1 channel
-
Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying
-
Sodium Channels
-
ppk protein, Drosophila
-
Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
-
Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins