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Genetic and neuronal mechanisms governing the sex-specific interaction between sleep and sexual behaviors in Drosophila

Author

Listed:
  • Dandan Chen

    (Southeast University)

  • Divya Sitaraman

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute
    Yale School of Medicine
    University of San Diego)

  • Nan Chen

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

  • Xin Jin

    (Yale School of Medicine)

  • Caihong Han

    (Southeast University)

  • Jie Chen

    (Southeast University)

  • Mengshi Sun

    (Southeast University)

  • Bruce S. Baker

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

  • Michael N. Nitabach

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute
    Yale School of Medicine
    Yale School of Medicine
    Yale School of Medicine)

  • Yufeng Pan

    (Southeast University
    Nantong University)

Abstract

Animals execute one particular behavior among many others in a context-dependent manner, yet the mechanisms underlying such behavioral choice remain poorly understood. Here we studied how two fundamental behaviors, sex and sleep, interact at genetic and neuronal levels in Drosophila. We show that an increased need for sleep inhibits male sexual behavior by decreasing the activity of the male-specific P1 neurons that coexpress the sex determination genes fru M and dsx, but does not affect female sexual behavior. Further, we delineate a sex-specific neuronal circuit wherein the P1 neurons encoding increased courtship drive suppressed male sleep by forming mutually excitatory connections with the fru M -positive sleep-controlling DN1 neurons. In addition, we find that FRUM regulates male courtship and sleep through distinct neural substrates. These studies reveal the genetic and neuronal basis underlying the sex-specific interaction between sleep and sexual behaviors in Drosophila, and provide insights into how competing behaviors are co-regulated.

Suggested Citation

  • Dandan Chen & Divya Sitaraman & Nan Chen & Xin Jin & Caihong Han & Jie Chen & Mengshi Sun & Bruce S. Baker & Michael N. Nitabach & Yufeng Pan, 2017. "Genetic and neuronal mechanisms governing the sex-specific interaction between sleep and sexual behaviors in Drosophila," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-00087-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00087-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Junjun Gao & Song Zhang & Pan Deng & Zhigang Wu & Bruno Lemaitre & Zongzhao Zhai & Zheng Guo, 2024. "Dietary L-Glu sensing by enteroendocrine cells adjusts food intake via modulating gut PYY/NPF secretion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-22, December.

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