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

Dandan Chen, Divya Sitaraman (), Nan Chen, Xin Jin, Caihong Han, Jie Chen, Mengshi Sun, Bruce S. Baker, Michael N. Nitabach () and Yufeng Pan ()
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Dandan Chen: Southeast University
Divya Sitaraman: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
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
Yufeng Pan: Southeast University

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00087-5

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