A nutrient-specific gut hormone arbitrates between courtship and feeding

Interorgan communication through peripherally derived peptide hormones inDrosophila

“…In addition, TK-, and DH31-producing EECs, which express many gustatory receptors (Gr), appear to be activated by dietary proteins and amino acids [ 198 , 199 ]. Indeed, a recent report showed that dietary amino acids activate DH31-producing EECs, thereby increasing DH31 levels in the haemolymph in adult males [ 182 ]. The secreted DH31 remotely acts on the DH31 receptor (DH31R) expressed in the two populations of neuropeptide-producing cells in the CNS to regulate courtship and protein feeding ( Figure 3c ).…”

“…DH31R expressed in the AstC-producing cells suppresses protein feeding, whereas DH31R in the Corazonin-producing cells promotes courtship behaviour. Therefore, the gut EEC-derived DH31 orchestrates the acute transition from feeding to courtship in adult males in response to dietary amino acids [ 182 ]. Together with the sugar-dependent production of EEC-derived peptides described above, these findings indicate that, as in mammals, peptide hormone release from the gut EECs is modulated in response to multiple nutrients in a gut region- and EEC type-specific manner.…”

“…A previous study using the locust and cockroach showed that the gut EECs release TK by depolarization, and the TK level in the haemolymph increases after starvation [ 180 ], suggesting that EECs can release peptides into circulation. In Drosophila , direct evidence has shown that EEC-derived Burs-α and DH31 can be detected in the circulating haemolymph [ 181 , 182 ]. Moreover, combinations of genetic experiments strongly suggest endocrine effects of several EEC-derived peptides on remote target organs or tissues such as the CNS, corpus cardiacum (pl.…”

Enteric bacterial infection inDrosophilainduces whole-body alterations in metabolic gene expression independently of the Immune Deficiency (Imd) signalling pathway

“…For example, several of the gut-enriched signaling molecules, such as AstC, CCHa1, NPF and Tk have receptors in the brain, suggesting they may signal from the gut-to-brain to mediate changes in gene expression. Indeed, a direct gut-to-brain signaling role has been shown for NPF, AstC and Dh31 in the context of nutrient regulation of feeding and metabolism (YOSHINARI et al 2021;KUBRAK et al 2022;LIN et al 2022). In addition, several of the changes in both transcription factor levels and intestinal/neuronal signaling could explain the increases in metabolic gene expression that we observed.…”

Dopaminergic neurons: linking longevity with reproduction?

“…For example, the scarcity of nutrients might serve as signals for insufficient resources needed to sustain the production of quality progenies, which, in turn, leads to an adaptive strategy that prolongs lifespan and delays reproduction so that the reproduction could be resumed later when the condition improves. Indeed, starved male flies actively suppress their mating drive but can quickly transit from feeding to courtship when food is available [ 6 ]. In eusocial insects, the somatic adaptation takes place naturally – the reproductive females undergo somatic remodeling so that they can live much longer to meet the reproduction demand.…”