Document Detail


Isoform-specific control of male neuronal differentiation and behavior in Drosophila by the fruitless gene.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16753560     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: How the central nervous system (CNS) develops to implement innate behaviors remains largely unknown. Drosophila male sexual behavior has long been used as a model to address this question. The male-specific products of fruitless (fru) are pivotal to the emergence of this behavior. These putative transcription factors, containing one of three alternative DNA binding domains, determine the neuronal substrates for sexual behavior in male CNS. RESULTS: We isolated the first fru coding mutation, resulting in complete loss of one isoform. At the neuronal level, this isoform alone controls differentiation of a male-specific muscle and its associated motorneuron. Conversely, a combination of isoforms is required for development of serotonergic neurons implicated in male copulatory behavior. Full development of these neurons requires the male-specific product of doublesex, a gene previously thought to act independently of fru. At the behavioral level, missing one isoform leads to diminished courtship behavior and infertility. We achieved the first rescue of a distinct fru behavioral phenotype, expressing a wild-type isoform in a defined subset of its normal expression pattern. CONCLUSION: This study exemplifies how complex behaviors can be controlled by a single locus through multiple isoforms regulating both developmental and physiological pathways in different neuronal substrates.
Authors:
Jean-Christophe Billeter; Adriana Villella; Jane B Allendorfer; Anthony J Dornan; Michael Richardson; Donald A Gailey; Stephen F Goodwin
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Current biology : CB     Volume:  16     ISSN:  0960-9822     ISO Abbreviation:  Curr. Biol.     Publication Date:  2006 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-06-06     Completed Date:  2006-08-28     Revised Date:  2008-10-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9107782     Medline TA:  Curr Biol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1063-76     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
IBLS Division of Molecular Genetics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G11 6NU, United Kingdom.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Alternative Splicing
Animals
Cell Differentiation / genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics,  metabolism,  physiology
Drosophila Proteins / genetics,  metabolism,  physiology*
Drosophila melanogaster / anatomy & histology,  physiology*
Female
Fertility
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Male
Mutation
Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics,  metabolism,  physiology*
Neurons / cytology*
Protein Isoforms / genetics,  metabolism,  physiology
Sex Characteristics
Sexual Behavior, Animal
Transcription Factors / genetics,  metabolism,  physiology*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
GM-21473/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS; GM48135/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS; NS-33352/NS/NINDS NIH HHS; //Wellcome Trust
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/DNA-Binding Proteins; 0/DSX protein, Drosophila; 0/Drosophila Proteins; 0/Nerve Tissue Proteins; 0/Protein Isoforms; 0/Transcription Factors; 0/fru protein, Drosophila
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Curr Biol. 2006 Jun 6;16(11):R405-7   [PMID:  16753550 ]

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