Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lukas Gratz, Maria Kowalski-Jahn, Magdalena M. Scharf, Pawel Kozielewicz, Michael Jahn, Julien Bous, Nevin A. Lambert, David E. Gloriam, Gunnar Schulte
Summary: This article investigates the structure and functional signaling of the receptor family Frizzled, finding that FZD(5) and other members prefer coupling to DVL over heterotrimeric G proteins, which depends on conformational changes in the receptor protein. The findings are important for understanding signaling pathway selectivity downstream of GPCRs.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Donato Romano, Giovanni Benelli, Cesare Stefanini
Summary: This study investigated the courtship and mating behavior of the neem bug, Halys dentatus, and found population-level lateralization in males approaching females. Furthermore, the male mating success was affected by lateralization, where right-biased males achieved higher mating success rates. The study highlights the importance of lateralized traits in determining male mating success in insects.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shimaa A. M. Ebrahim, Hany K. M. Dweck, Brian L. Weiss, John R. Carlson
Summary: Tsetse flies engage in chemical communication through volatile pheromones, specifically methyl palmitoleate, which elicits strong behavioral responses. This compound induces G. morsitans males to mount females of another species, Glossina fuscipes. Infection with African trypanosomes alters the flies' chemical profile and mating behavior, indicating the potential usefulness of identifying volatile attractants in tsetse flies for reducing disease spread.
Article
Cell Biology
Mengshi Sun, Mingze Ma, Bowen Deng, Na Li, Qionglin Peng, Yufeng Pan
Summary: This study reveals how hunger state affects female receptivity in fruit flies by elucidating the inhibitory role of adipokinetic hormone receptor neurons on sexual receptivity through interaction with specific neurons. The research also discovers that certain neurons suppress the activity of sex-promoting neurons through GABA signaling, integrating multiple internal and external cues for decision-making.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yan Tong Yang, Shao Wei, Xiaonan Li, Yuanjie Sun, Ping He, Kristi Anne Kohlmeier, Yan Zhu
Summary: Courtship in Drosophila involves dynamic interaction between males and females, with successful copulation depending on the intention of both parties and conveyed through complex action sequences. Recent research focuses on the neural mechanisms controlling female's sexual receptivity. This study reveals that pre-mating sexual receptivity in female Drosophila requires activity within a subset of serotonergic projection neurons, which are regulated by male-derived sex peptide and downstream 5-HT signaling.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kayoko Yamamoto, Ryo Matsuzaki, Wuttipong Mahakham, Wirawan Heman, Hiroyuki Sekimoto, Masanobu Kawachi, Yohei Minakuchi, Atsushi Toyoda, Hisayoshi Nozaki
Summary: By comparing genome data from Thai and Japanese genotypes of the homothallic green alga Volvox africanus, it was found that expanded ancestral male and female sex-determining regions (SDRs) may have originated from an ancient heterothallic ancestor and were conserved during the evolution of homothallic genotypes. An expanded SDR-like region appears to be essential for homothallic sexual reproduction in V. africanus, regardless of its male or female origin. This study highlights the future possibility of elucidating the biological significance of these expanded genomic regions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hajar Faal, Peter J. Silk, Peter D. Mayo, Stephen A. Teale
Summary: The study describes the courtship behavior and identification of sex pheromones in Ibalia leucospoides, revealing that four straight-chain alkanes in female body wash are attractive to male I. leucospoides.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Athanasios-Stefanos Giannopoulos, Lydia Giannakou, Natalia Gourgoulianni, Eleanna Pitaraki, Rajesh Jagirdar, Periklis Marnas, Panagiotis I. Tzamalas, Erasmia Rouka, Eleni Livanou, Chrissi Hatzoglou, Konstantinos Gourgoulianis, Stefan Luepold, Wolf U. Blanckenhorn, Sotirios G. Zarogiannis
Summary: This study found that exposure to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) negatively affects the development and reproductive success of fruit flies, while having little impact on their courtship behavior. Future research should explore the effect of CSE on the fertility of male and female flies.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Quentin Rougemont, Barbara Huber, Simon H. Martin, Annabel Whibley, Catalina Estrada, Darha Solano, Robert Orpet, W. Owen McMillan, Brigitte Frerot, Mathieu Joron
Summary: By studying the speciation process of Heliconius butterflies, it is found that wing pattern divergence may play a role in speciation and be associated with hybridization and reproductive isolation.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuji Nishiike, Daichi Miyazoe, Rie Togawa, Keiko Yokoyama, Kiyoshi Nakasone, Masayoshi Miyata, Yukiko Kikuchi, Yasuhiro Kamei, Takeshi Todo, Tomoko Ishikawa-Fujiwara, Kaoru Ohno, Takeshi Usami, Yoshitaka Nagahama, Kataaki Okubo
Summary: The study reveals that in medaka, E2/Esr2b signaling in the brain plays a decisive role in feminization and demasculinization of female mating behavior and sexual preference, which contrasts with prevailing views in rodents and other teleosts. The mutual antagonism between E2/Esr2b signaling and androgen receptor-mediated androgen signaling induces and actively maintains sex-typical mating behaviors and preference in adulthood. Female-biased sexual dimorphism in esr2b expression in specific brain nuclei associated with mating behavior can be reversed between males and females by altering the sex steroid environment in adulthood.
Article
Ecology
Xinghu Qin, Jinshu Yang, Jingchuan Ma, Thomas Ryan Lock, Guangjun Wang, Zehua Zhang
Summary: Precopulatory oral sexual behavior in the desert beetle Platyope mongolica plays a crucial role in gaining consent for mating and ultimately impacts copulation success. Interference in oral sexual contacts reduces the proportion of successful copulation, and removal of antennae leads to homosexual behavior between males. These findings underscore the importance of oral sexual courtship in sexual selection.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ya-Hui Chou, Chi-Jen Yang, Hao-Wei Huang, Nan-Fu Liou, Michael Raphael Panganiban, David Luginbuhl, Yijie Yin, Istvan Taisz, Liang Liang, Gregory S. X. E. Jefferis, Liqun Luo
Summary: In this study, the authors used genetic labeling and electron microscopy connectomics to investigate the variability of a specific neuron, TC-LN, in its innervation patterns. They found that this neuron exhibits extraordinary variability and that it is influenced by factors such as sex, courtship experience, and mating in relation to food intake. The researchers propose that this mating-associated variability regulates how food odor is interpreted by the inhibitory network to modulate feeding behavior.
Article
Entomology
Yu-Xiao Tao, Shuang Shan, Youssef Dewer, Shan-Ning Wang, Adel Khashaveh, Rui-Jun Li, Yong-Jun Zhang
Summary: This study characterized a candidate sex pheromone component, n-octyl acrylate, in female M. mediator and demonstrated its significant effects on male courtship behavior. The identification and functional characterization of this sex pheromone component provide insights for the design of behavioral regulators to protect and utilize natural enemies.
Article
Biology
Andreas Fischer, Regine Gries, Santosh K. Alamsetti, Emmanuel Hung, Andrea C. Roman Torres, Yasasi Fernando, Sanam Meraj, Weiwu Ren, Robert Britton, Gerhard Gries
Summary: This study reports new contact pheromone components produced by female false black widow spiders, which induce courtship behavior in males and can be manipulated to adjust the attractiveness of their webs.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ki-Hyeon Seong, Tadashi Uemura, Siu Kang
Summary: This study examined the timing of various behavioral events during sexual maturation in D. melanogaster and found that the time of first mating is genetically determined and not influenced by light/dark cycle or food intake. Additionally, sexual dimorphism in locomotor activity was observed, with females increasing activity earlier than males. The study also identified a rapid change in sexual activity in males post-eclosion, which could serve as an indicator of sexual maturation.
Correction
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hui Chiu, Eric D. Hoopfer, Maeve L. Coughlan, Hania J. Pavlou, Stephen F. Goodwin, David J. Anderson
Review
Ecology
Xiaocui Wang, Thomas A. Verschut, Jean-Christophe Billeter, Martine E. Maan
Summary: Adaptation to different environments can lead to reproductive isolation and the formation of new species, with food resources being one of the most important environmental factors. The chemosensory system plays a crucial role in detecting food resources, mediating changes, and promoting adaptation and population specialization.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tetsuya Nojima, Annika Rings, Aaron M. Allen, Nils Otto, Thomas A. Verschut, Jean-Christophe Billeter, Megan C. Neville, Stephen F. Goodwin
Summary: This study reveals a novel sexual dimorphism in Drosophila melanogaster, where sexual differentiation of only a small number of higher order neurons in the brain leads to changes in connectivity related to the primary reproductive needs of both sexes, allowing for completely different behavioral repertoires to be deployed in males and females.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Clement Immarigeon, Yohan Frei, Sofie Y. N. Delbare, Dragan Gligorov, Pedro Machado Almeida, Jasmine Grey, Lea Fabbro, Emi Nagoshi, Jean-Christophe Billeter, Mariana F. Wolfner, Francois Karch, Robert K. Maeda
Summary: Many transcripts previously considered noncoding RNAs are now found to produce peptides with important biological functions, such as the micropeptide encoded by male-specific abdominal RNA. This micropeptide is expressed exclusively in the secondary cells of the male accessory gland of Drosophila, and its loss of function results in defects in sperm competition, highlighting the importance of small peptides in biological processes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Megan C. Neville, Alexander Eastwood, Aaron M. Allen, Ammerins de Haan, Tetsuya Nojima, Stephen F. Goodwin
Summary: Identification of mutations in the fruitless gene has provided insights into the genetic basis of male sexual behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. Mutations in the fru gene, particularly in the P1 promoter region, have been shown to disrupt male courtship displays and lead to male-specific sterility. This study has expanded the analysis of fru P1-dependent behaviors, and the fru(Delta P1) mutant created can be a valuable tool for future studies in understanding male sexual behaviors in D. melanogaster.
JOURNAL OF NEUROGENETICS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Philip Kohlmeier, Ye Zhang, Jenke A. Gorter, Chih-Ying Su, Jean-Christophe Billeter
Summary: This study demonstrates that Drosophila melanogaster females become more selective after mating due to the increased release of juvenile hormone, which affects their sensitivity to male-produced pheromones. Polyandry allows mating-status-dependent choosiness, enabling females to acquire sperm in a timely manner and enhance offspring quality. The neurohormonal mechanism underlying mating-status-dependent choosiness provides insights into how juvenile hormone modulates behavior and emphasizes the importance of mated females in intersexual selection in polyandrous species.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Stephen F. Goodwin, Oliver Hobert
Summary: Male and female brains exhibit anatomical and functional differences, which have been well-studied in animal species including humans. Recent advances have revealed insights into how the worm and fly brains develop sexually dimorphic features, with each system offering unique advantages for studying sex-specific behaviors.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, VOL 37
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hongjie Li, Jasper Janssens, Maxime De Waegeneer, Sai Saroja Kolluru, Kristofer Davie, Vincent Gardeux, Wouter Saelens, Fabrice David, Maria Brbic, Jure Leskovec, Colleen N. McLaughlin, Qijing Xie, Robert C. Jones, Katja Brueckner, Jiwon Shim, Sudhir Gopal Tattikota, Frank Schnorrer, Katja Rust, Todd G. Nystul, Zita Carvalho-Santos, Carlos Ribeiro, Soumitra Pal, Sharvani Mahadevaraju, Teresa M. Przytycka, Aaron M. Allen, Stephen F. Goodwin, Cameron W. Berry, Margaret T. Fuller, Helen White-Cooper, Erika L. Matunis, Stephen DiNardo, Anthony Galenza, Lucy Erin O'Brien, Julian A. T. Dow, Heinrich Jasper, Brian Oliver, Norbert Perrimon, Bart Deplancke, Stephen R. Quake, Liqun Luo, Stein Aerts
Summary: This study presents a single-cell atlas of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, including 580,000 nuclei and annotations of over 250 distinct cell types. It serves as a valuable resource for the Drosophila community and provides a reference for studying genetic perturbations and disease models at single-cell resolution.
Article
Ecology
Xiaocui Wang, Jean-Christophe Billeter, Martine E. Maan
Summary: Heterogeneity in food resources is a major driver of local adaptation and speciation. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, shows different responses to different yeast species and maximizes different life-history traits on different yeast species, which may explain the limited extent of dietary specialization in fruit flies.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Philip Kohlmeier, Jean-Christophe Billeter
Summary: This review discusses the genetic mechanisms that regulate neuronal sensitivity and behavior, providing a comprehensive list of already identified genes and mechanisms that impact behavior through changes in neuronal sensitivity to help interpret omics data.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas A. Verschut, Renny Ng, Nicolas P. Doubovetzky, Guillaume Le Calvez, Jan L. Sneep, Adriaan J. Minnaard, Chih-Ying Su, Mikael A. Carlsson, Bregje Wertheim, Jean-Christophe Billeter
Summary: Female fruit flies can assess the social information of their oviposition sites by detecting the concentration of pheromones left by previous visitors. They prefer sites with intermediate pheromone concentrations and avoid sites with low or high concentrations. This decision-making process is based on the detection of two different pheromones.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Arjun Rajan, Lucas Anhezini, Noemi Rives-Quinto, Jay Y. Chhabra, Megan C. Neville, Elizabeth D. Larson, Stephen F. Goodwin, Melissa M. Harrison, Cheng-Yu Lee
Summary: The coordinated regulation of gene activity through transcriptional and translational mechanisms allows stem cells to undergo timely cell-state transitions during differentiation. In this study, the researchers investigated the fine-tuning of gene transcription in fly neural stem cells during the commitment of intermediate neural progenitors. They found that a transcription factor called Fruitless(C) (Fru(C)) binds to cis-regulatory elements of genes that are uniquely transcribed in neural stem cells. The researchers demonstrated that Fru(C) negatively regulates gene expression by promoting low-level enrichment of the repressive histone mark H3K27me3 in the cis-regulatory regions of genes. They propose that this low-level enrichment of H3K27me3 fine-tunes gene transcription in stem cells, a mechanism that may be conserved from flies to humans.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Martijn A. Schenkel, Jean-Christophe Billeter, Leo W. Beukeboom, Ido Pen
Summary: Sex determination is a crucial process in development and its molecular basis is diverse. It can be categorized as genetic or environmental, but mixed systems are more common than previously thought. Environmental effects on gene expression within sex determination regulatory mechanisms can trigger evolutionary divergence of these mechanisms within species.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tiphaine P. M. Bailly, Philip Kohlmeier, Rampal S. Etienne, Bregje Wertheim, Jean-Christophe Billeter
Summary: Being part of a group facilitates cooperation between group members but also creates competition for resources. Gravid females modulate reproductive output depending on social context, laying eggs faster when grouped to reduce competition between offspring and increase survival. The presence of others triggers this response, regardless of sex, mating status, or species. The modulation of egg laying by group is connected to a lifting of the inhibition of light on oogenesis and egg laying, possibly mediated by an increase in juvenile hormone activity. This suggests a widespread and profound influence of social context on reproduction.