scholarly journals Histamine signaling via the metabotropic receptor Trapped in endoderm 1 regulates courtship initiation in Drosophila melanogaster

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadaf A. Zaki ◽  
Jaspal Sandhu ◽  
Rachael L. French
Keyword(s):  
Courtship Behavior ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Splicing Factor ◽  
Splice Form ◽  
Metabotropic Receptor ◽  
Female Specific ◽  
Male Specific ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient ◽  
G Protein Coupled

AbstractUnderstanding the role of genes in directing behavior is one of the primary goals of neuroscience. Mating behavior in Drosophila is controlled by male-specific splicing of the master regulatory gene fruitless (fru), and the male-specific splice form, fruM, is both necessary and sufficient for all aspects of the courtship ritual. We have previously described the role of Trapped in endoderm 1 (Tre1) in courtship behavior. Tre1 encodes an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor that is essential for normal courtship behavior in male flies. We previously found that feminizing Tre1-expressing cells in males via expression of the female-specific splicing factor Transformer (TraF) resulted in rapid courtship initiation. Here we confirm that Tre1 is required in neurons for normal courtship behavior, and present genetic evidence that Tre1 acts through the downregulation of the E-cadherin Shotgun, and that the neurotransmitter histamine is the likely Tre1 ligand. Our findings are the first evidence for metabotropic histamine receptors in Drosophila, and the first to demonstrate a role for histamine in courtship.

scholarly journals Regulation of Sex-Specific Selection offruitless 5′ Splice Sites by transformerand transformer-2

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 450-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Heinrichs ◽  
Lisa C. Ryner ◽  
Bruce S. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Splice Site ◽  
Courtship Behavior ◽  
Specific Pattern ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Repeat Elements ◽  
Specific Alternative ◽  
Female Specific ◽  
Male Specific ◽  
Splicing Enhancer

ABSTRACT In Drosophila melanogaster, the fruitless(fru) gene controls essentially all aspects of male courtship behavior. It does this through sex-specific alternative splicing of the fru pre-mRNA, leading to the production of male-specific fru mRNAs capable of expressing male-specificfru proteins. Sex-specific fru splicing involves the choice between alternative 5′ splice sites, one used exclusively in males and the other used only in females. Here we report that the Drosophila sex determination genestransformer (tra) and transformer-2(tra-2) switch fru splicing from the male-specific pattern to the female-specific pattern through activation of the female-specific fru 5′ splice site. Activation of female-specific fru splicing requirescis-acting tra and tra-2 repeat elements that are part of an exonic splicing enhancer located immediately upstream of the female-specific fru 5′ splice site and are recognized by the TRA and TRA-2 proteins in vitro. Thisfru splicing enhancer is sufficient to promote the activation by tra and tra-2 of both a 5′ splice site and the female-specific doublesex (dsx) 3′ splice site, suggesting that the mechanisms of 5′ splice site activation and 3′ splice site activation may be similar.

scholarly journals Sexual selection on multiple female ornaments in dance flies

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1887) ◽  
pp. 20181525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalind L. Murray ◽  
Jill Wheeler ◽  
Darryl T. Gwynne ◽  
Luc F. Bussière
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Conflict ◽  
Female Ornaments ◽  
Conflict Model ◽  
Probable Role ◽  
Ornament Evolution ◽  
Female Specific ◽  
Male Specific ◽  
Dance Fly ◽  
Trait Space

Sex-specific ornaments typically occur in males, but they can also develop in females. While there are several models concerning the evolution of male-specific ornaments, it is not clear how, or under what circumstances, those models apply to female-specific ornament evolution. Here, we present a manipulative field experiment that explores the theoretical ‘trait space’ of multiple female-specific ornaments to study how these unusual traits evolved. We measured the attractiveness of two female-specific ornaments (pinnate leg scales and inflatable abdominal sacs) in the dance fly Rhamphomyia longicauda in a wild mating swarm. We found significant directional preferences for larger ornaments of both types; however, variation in one of the ornaments (abdominal sacs) was almost three times more effective at improving attractiveness. The abdominal ornament was consistently effective in increasing attractiveness to males regardless of leg ornament expression, while leg ornament size was only effective if abdominal ornaments were very small. These results are consistent with predictions from a sexual conflict model of ornament expression in supporting the probable role of deception in the evolution of female-specific ornaments among dance flies. Sexual conflict can be an important force in generating elaborate sex-specific ornaments in females as well as males.

scholarly journals Role of L-glutamate in aggression

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 740-744
Author(s):  
Bogdan Feliks Kania ◽  
Danuta Wrońska
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Steroid Receptors ◽  
Cation Channels ◽  
Metabotropic Receptor ◽  
Ionotropic Receptors ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Stimulation Of

L-glutamate is one of major excitatory transmitters (along with aspartic, kainate acids and glycine) in the central nervous system and/or the peripheral nervous system. It mediates interaction through the stimulation of various ionotropic receptors families (ligand gated cation channels) and metabotropic receptor families (G-protein coupled). In this review, we describe the molecular composition of these glutamatergic receptors and discuss their neuropharmacology, particularly with respect to their roles in animal social behaviors and, particularly, in aggression. It is also known, that during aggression different interactions occur in the nervous system among glutamate, serotonin, vasopressin, oxytocin, dopamine, GABA and steroid receptors.

AUTOREGULATORY FUNCTIONING OF A DROSOPHILA GENE PRODUCT THAT ESTABLISHES AND MAINTAINS THE SEXUALLY DETERMINED STATE

Genetics ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-277
Author(s):  
Thomas W Cline
Keyword(s):  
Sex Determination ◽  
Dosage Compensation ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Lethal Effects ◽  
Epigenetic Effect ◽  
Female Specific ◽  
Male Specific

ABSTRACT Sxl appears to head a regulatory gene hierarchy that controls Drosophila sexual dimorphism in response to the X chromosome/autosome balance. Only XXAA cells normally have Sxl  + activity. It maintains both the female morphogenetic sequence and a level of X-linked dosage-compensated gene expression compatible with diplo-X cell survival. In the absence of this activity, male sexual development and dosage-compensated gene hyperactivation ensure. Loss-of-function Sxl mutations generally have female-specific lethal effects caused by upsets in dosage compensation. New female-viable Sxl mutant alleles and combinations which lack Sxl's female sex determination function, yet still provide sufficient dosage compensation function for diplo-X survival, are described here. Consequently, such mutants cause genotypic females to develop as phenotypic males. Some of these sex-transforming Sxl mutants do not require the maternally produced da  + activity that is normally essential for the functioning of zygotic Sxl alleles. In this paper, products of these unusual alleles are shown to act in trans to induce the expression of zygotic Sxl  + alleles that would otherwise be unable to function due to a lack of maternal da  + activity. This result indicates a third function for Sxl  + product: a positive autoregulatory role. Controls for the autoregulation experiments demonstrated the sex-trans-forming epigenetic effect of the da mutation for the first time in diploids. In these experiments the female-specific zygotic lethal effects that normally would have accompanied loss of maternal da  + activity were suppressed by mutations known to block dosage-compensation gene hyperactivation-the autosomal, male-specific lethals. Three types of abnormal sexual phenotypes were produced in the experiments described here, each with important implications for the mechanism of sex determination: (1) a true intersex phenotype produced by one particular Sxl allele shows that Sxl  + must be involved in the cellular response to the X/A balance rather than in its establishment; (2) a maternally induced, female-sterile phenotype indicates that either the process of autoregulation or the mutants used to demonstrate it are tissue specific and (3) a mosaic intersexual phenotype whose character implies that the Sxl  + activity level is set early in development, both by the da  +-mediated X/A balance signal and by autoregulation, and is maintained subsequently in a cell autonomous fashion, independent of the initiating X/A balance signal. Thus, this study supports the view that sex determination is truly determinative in the standard developmental sense, and that Sxl is the carrier of the sexually determined state.

A dual role of growth hormone as a feminizing and masculinizing factor in the control of sex-specific cytochrome P-450 isozymes in rat liver

1989 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mode ◽  
E. Wiersma-Larsson ◽  
A. Ström ◽  
P. G. Zaphiropoulos ◽  
J.-Å. Gustafsson
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Mrna Level ◽  
Simultaneous Treatment ◽  
Full Effect ◽  
Hypophysectomized Rats ◽  
Female Specific ◽  
Male Specific ◽  
Cytochrome P 450 ◽  
Secretory Pattern

ABSTRACT The effects of GH on the major constitutive sex-specific forms of cytochrome P-450 (P-45015β and P-45016α) were studied in hypophysectomized rats at the mRNA level. Time-course experiments were performed with or without simultaneous treatment with thyroxine and cortisol. Intermittent administration of GH, mimicking the male secretory pattern, caused complete masculinization of the male specific P-45016α at a pretranslational level in the absence and presence of thyroxine and cortisol. When GH was administered continuously, mimicking the female secretory pattern, the female specific P-45015β was induced, an effect that was dramatically potentiated by simultaneous treatment with thyroxine and cortisol. A synergistic effect of thyroxine and cortisol at a pretranslational level was demonstrated, although the major potentiating effect could be attributed to thyroxine. Thus it was concluded that GH, depending on its secretory pattern is the sole masculinizing factor for cytochrome P-450, and that it is also a feminizing factor, although this activity requires the synergistic action of thyroid hormones and glucocorticoids to reach its full effect. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 120, 311–317

scholarly journals Sex-determining genes distinctly regulate courtship capability and target preference via sexually dimorphic neurons

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenichi Ishii ◽  
Margot Wohl ◽  
Andre DeSouza ◽  
Kenta Asahina
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Courtship Behavior ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Genetic Pathways ◽  
Neuronal Populations ◽  
Specific Enhancement ◽  
Male Animal ◽  
Courtship Behaviors ◽  
Female Specific ◽  
Male Specific

For successful mating, a male animal must execute effective courtship behaviors toward a receptive target sex, which is female. Whether the courtship execution capability and upregulation of courtship toward females are specified through separable sex-determining genetic pathways remains uncharacterized. Here, we found that one of the two Drosophila sex-determining genes, doublesex (dsx), specifies a male-specific neuronal component that serves as an execution mechanism for courtship behavior, whereas fruitless (fru) is required for enhancement of courtship behavior toward females. The dsx-dependent courtship execution mechanism includes a specific subclass within a neuronal cluster that co-express dsx and fru. This cluster contains at least another subclass that is specified cooperatively by both dsx and fru. Although these neuronal populations can also promote aggressive behavior toward male flies, this capacity requires fru-dependent mechanisms. Our results uncover how sex-determining genes specify execution capability and female-specific enhancement of courtship behavior through separable yet cooperative neurogenetic mechanisms.

Bioinformatics Analysis and Validation of Differentially Expressed MicroRNAs with Their Target Genes Involved in GLP-1RA Facilitated Osteogenesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Wang ◽  
Yukun Li ◽  
Sijing Liu ◽  
Liu Gao ◽  
Chang Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Bioinformatics Analysis ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Functional Study ◽  
Regulation Network ◽  
Glucagon Like Peptide 1 ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Lower Expression

Background: Recent studies revealed that the hypoglycemic hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), acted as an important modulator in osteogenesis of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the specific microRNA (miRNA) using bioinformatics analysis and validate the presence of differentially expressed microRNAs with their target genes after GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) administration involved in ostogenesis of BMSCs. Methods: MiRNAs were extracted from BMSCs after 5 days’ treatment and sent for high-throughput sequencing for differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs analyses. Then the expression of the DE miRNAs verified by the real-time RT-PCR analyses. Target genes were predicted, and highly enriched GOs and KEGG pathway analysis were conducted using bioinformatics analysis. For the functional study, two of the target genes, SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 5 (SOX5) and G protein-coupled receptor 84 (GPR84), were identified. Results: A total of 5 miRNAs (miRNA-509-5p, miRNA-547-3p, miRNA-201-3p, miRNA-201-5p, and miRNA-novel-272-mature) were identified differentially expressed among groups. The expression of miRNA-novel-272-mature were decreased during the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, and GLP-1RA further decreased its expression. MiRNA-novel-272-mature might interact with its target mRNAs to enhance osteogenesis. The lower expression of miRNA-novel-272-mature led to an increase in SOX5 and a decrease in GPR84 mRNA expression, respectively. Conclusions: Taken together, these results provide further insights to the pharmacological properties of GLP-1RA and expand our knowledge on the role of miRNAs-mRNAs regulation network in BMSCs’ differentiation.

A Review on Melatonin’s Effects in Cancer: Potential Mechanisms

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 985-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aysegul Hanikoglu ◽  
Ertan Kucuksayan ◽  
Rana Cagla Akduman ◽  
Tomris Ozben
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Membrane Receptors ◽  
Cancer Development ◽  
Secretory Product ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
G Protein Coupled

This systematic review aims to elucidate the role of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-metoxy-tryptamine) (MLT) in the prevention and treatment of cancer. MLT is a pineal gland secretory product, an evolutionarily highly conserved molecule; it is also an antioxidant and an impressive protector of mitochondrial bioenergetic activity. MLT is characterized by an ample range of activities, modulating the physiology and molecular biology of the cell. Its physiological functions relate principally to the interaction of G Protein-Coupled MT1 and MT2 trans-membrane receptors (GPCRs), a family of guanidine triphosphate binding proteins. MLT has been demonstrated to suppress the growth of various tumours both, in vivo and in vitro. In this review, we analyze in depth, the antioxidant activity of melatonin, aiming to illustrate the cancer treatment potential of the molecule, by limiting or reversing the changes occurring during cancer development and growth.

A Proposed Framework Emphasizing Auditor Reliability over Auditor Independence

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark H. Taylor ◽  
F. Todd DeZoort ◽  
Edward Munn ◽  
Martha Wetterhall Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Sufficient Condition ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient Condition ◽  
Accounting Profession ◽  
The Public ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

This paper introduces an auditor reliability framework that repositions the role of auditor independence in the accounting profession. The framework is motivated in part by widespread confusion about independence and the auditing profession's continuing problems with managing independence and inspiring public confidence. We use philosophical, theoretical, and professional arguments to argue that the public interest will be best served by reprioritizing professional and ethical objectives to establish reliability in fact and appearance as the cornerstone of the profession, rather than relationship-based independence in fact and appearance. This revised framework requires three foundation elements to control subjectivity in auditors' judgments and decisions: independence, integrity, and expertise. Each element is a necessary but not sufficient condition for maximizing objectivity. Objectivity, in turn, is a necessary and sufficient condition for achieving and maintaining reliability in fact and appearance.

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