A hormone-to-neuropeptide pathway inhibits sexual receptivity in immature <i>Drosophila</i> females
Abstract
Newborns, typically asexual, undergo a process of sexual transition to reach sexual maturity, but the regulatory mechanism underlying this transition is not clear. Here, we studied how female sexual behavior is modulated during sexual transition by hormones and neuromodulators in Drosophila . We found that neuropeptide Leucokinin (LK) inhibits female receptivity specifically during a sexual transition period in immature females, but not in younger or mature females. Moreover, the steroid hormone ecdysone, which is mainly synthesized in the female ovary during sexual maturation, acts on LK neurons via the ecdysone receptor to suppress sexual receptivity. We further found that LK suppresses female receptivity through its receptor LKR in central pC1 neurons, a decision center for female sexual behavior. These findings reveal a hormone-to-neuropeptide pathway that specifically inhibits sexual behavior during sexual maturation in female Drosophila , shedding light on how hormones and neuromodulators coordinate sexual development and behaviors.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (9)
Jie Chen
Peiwen Zhu
The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University
Sihui Jin
The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University
Zhaokun Zhang
The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University
Simei Jiang
The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University
Sheng Li
Suning Liu
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University
Qionglin Peng
The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University
Yufeng Pan
The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University