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Abstract

Drosophila melanogaster strains, homozygous for the alcohol dehydrogenase alleles AdhF, AdhS, and Adhn4 respectively, were tested for oviposition site preference with a Multiple Choice Device consisting of 18 patches per choice disk. Equal numbers of patches with ethanol-, acetic acid-, and water-supplemented medium were offered simultaneously. Patches with acetic acid-supplemented medium were chosen predominantly as oviposition sites. Pretreatment of flies with increasing concentrations of 2-propanol to inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity resulted not only in a decreasing choice of acetic acid patches, but also in the laying of a decreasing number of eggs. Adh-null mutant flies showed a similar change in behavior pattern after 2-propanol treatment. Therefore it was concluded that ADH activity is not involved primarily in oviposition site preference behavior. A complicating factor is acetone, the oxidation product of 2-propanol, which had an even larger impact on egg production. However, differences in ADH allozymes with respect to biochemical oxidation capacity of secondary alcohols will not necessarily lead to differences between the Adh genotypes in oviposition rates or apparent changes in preferences, due to additional biochemical differences in inhibition rates by acetone of the various allozymes and other enzyme systems.

Ionotropic Receptors Mediate Drosophila Oviposition Preference through Sour Gustatory Receptor Neurons

“…When given a choice, Drosophila females prefer to lay their eggs on acetic acid containing food [33–35]. Acids also enhance palatability and consumption of sugars contaminated with bitter compounds [31], but this process is mediated by bitter GRNs and might involve extracellular interactions of taste ligands with odorant binding proteins [36].…”

Natural Variation in Decision-Making Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

“…For example, on fruits that have just started to decompose, we have observed that D. melanogaster females will deposit eggs into the stem cavity in addition to directly ovipositing into a rotting abscess. If genetic and environmental variation affects these decisions (as supported by previous studies of oviposition behavior in Drosophila [6], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22]), this variation could be used as a model for individual differences in preference behavior. Here we show that natural isolates of Drosophila melanogaster have surprising preferences when presented with simple media containing acetic acid, ethanol and agar, with or without yeast extract.…”

Tissue-Specific Activation of a Single Gustatory Receptor Produces Opposing Behavioral Responses in Drosophila

“…Recent studies have demonstrated that during egg-laying site selection female fruit flies actively explore the different options available before choosing where to lay their eggs (Yang et al 2008; Miller et al 2011; Schwartz et al 2012). Interestingly, females do not always remain on the substrate where they have deposited their eggs (Joseph et al 2009) and will often choose to lay eggs on substrates they normally find aversive for foraging and feeding (Fuyama 1976; Moreteau et al 1994; Eisses 1997; Matsuo et al 2007; Lee et al 2009; Sellier et al 2011; Weiss et al 2011). Since a fly cannot be in two places at once, a choice must be made between these competing preference pathways.…”

“…Although previous studies have identified compounds that can induce avoidance responses (Fuyama 1976; Lee et al 2009; Sellier et al 2011; Weiss et al 2011) and attractive egg-laying preference in Drosophila (Moreteau et al 1994; Eisses 1997; Matsuo et al 2007; Yang et al 2008; Miller et al 2011), the analysis has been performed independently, i.e. , aversion and attraction have been measured in separate assays.…”