Graded Encoding of Food Odor Value in the<i>Drosophila</i>Brain

Beshel, Jennifer; Zhong, Yi

doi:10.1523/jneurosci.2605-13.2013

Cited by 71 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Most, but not all, sensilla also contain a bitter/high salt sensing neuron (referred to as bitter neuron), which is activated by bitter compounds found in plants and strongly suppress feeding [8–12]. However, bitter compounds may also accumulate in fruit, along with yeast the main food and egg laying source of Drosophila melanogaster [13, 14], as by-products of microbes and other microorganisms that colonize fruit during ripening and decay [15, 16]. At least two additional types of GRNs are present in most taste sensilla and detect water and low salt solutions, respectively [17, 18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing Perception of Contaminated Food through Acid-Mediated Modulation of Taste Neuron Responses

Chen

Amrein

2014

Current Biology

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SUMMARY Background Natural foods not only contain nutrients, but also non-nutritious and potentially harmful chemicals. Thus, animals need to evaluate food content in order to make adequate feeding decisions. Results Here, we investigate the effects of acids on the taste neuron responses and on taste behavior of desirable, nutritious sugars and sugar/bitter compound mixtures in Drosophila melanogaster. Using Ca2+ imaging, we show that acids neither activate sweet nor bitter taste neurons in tarsal taste sensilla. However, they suppress responses to bitter compounds in bitter-sensing neurons. Moreover, acids reverse suppression of bitter compounds exerted on sweet-sensing neurons. Consistent with these observations, behavioral analyses show that bitter compound-mediated inhibition on feeding behavior is alleviated by acids. To investigate the cellular mechanism by which acids modulate these effects, we silenced bitter sensing gustatory neurons. Surprisingly, this intervention had little effect on acid-mediated de-repression of sweet neuron or feeding responses to either sugar/bitter compound mixtures, or sugar/bitter compound/acid mixtures, suggesting two independent pathways by which bitter compounds are sensed. Conclusions Our investigations reveal that acids, when presented in dietary relevant concentrations, enhance the perception of sugar/bitter compound mixtures. Drosophila’s natural food sources - fruits and cohabitating yeast - are rich in sugars and acids, but are rapidly colonized by microorganisms, such as fungi, protozoan parasites and bacteria, many of which produce bitter compounds. We propose that acids present in most fruits counteract the inhibitory effects of these bitter compounds during feeding.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing Perception of Contaminated Food through Acid-Mediated Modulation of Taste Neuron Responses

Chen

Amrein

2014

Current Biology

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“…To this end, robust sensory inputs to the network may become contextualized by certain response features such as SSA as well as via modulation by state indicators to be integrated in the formation of motor programs or not, depending on current behavioral goals. A recent study of the encoding of food odor value in the Drosophila brain suggests that this preliminary model on central-complex function might hold across species and sensory modalities (Beshel and Zhong 2013). The activity of neurons that invade the fan-shaped body, the fly's homolog of the CBU, reflected the behaviorally indicated attractiveness of food odors as a function of the animal's feeding state.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amplitude and dynamics of polarization-plane signaling in the central complex of the locust brain

Bockhorst

Homberg

2015

Journal of Neurophysiology

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The polarization pattern of skylight provides a compass cue that various insect species use for allocentric orientation. In the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, a network of neurons tuned to the electric field vector (E-vector) angle of polarized light is present in the central complex of the brain. Preferred E-vector angles vary along slices of neuropils in a compasslike fashion (polarotopy). We studied how the activity in this polarotopic population is modulated in ways suited to control compassguided locomotion. To this end, we analyzed tuning profiles using measures of correlation between spike rate and E-vector angle and, furthermore, tested for adaptation to stationary angles. The results suggest that the polarotopy is stabilized by antagonistic integration across neurons with opponent tuning. Downstream to the input stage of the network, responses to stationary E-vector angles adapted quickly, which may correlate with a tendency to steer a steady course previously observed in tethered flying locusts. By contrast, rotating E-vectors corresponding to changes in heading direction under a natural sky elicited nonadapting responses. However, response amplitudes were particularly variable at the output stage, covarying with the level of ongoing activity. Moreover, the responses to rotating E-vector angles depended on the direction of rotation in an anticipatory manner. Our observations support a view of the central complex as a substrate of higher-stage processing that could assign contextual meaning to sensory input for motor control in goal-driven behaviors. Parallels to higher-stage processing of sensory information in vertebrates are discussed.

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“…In a food-deprived state, an adult fruit fly will forage for potential food sources (a, panel a, Figure 1) [3,4]. Chemosensory detection of a palatable food leads to cessation of locomotion (b), meal initiation (c), and consumption (d) [5,6].…”

Section: Structure and Plasticity In Drosophila Feeding Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding regulation in Drosophila

Pool

Scott

2014

Current Opinion in Neurobiology

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143

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Neuromodulators play a key role in adjusting animal behavior based on environmental cues and internal needs. Here, we review the regulation of Drosophila feeding behavior to illustrate how neuromodulators achieve behavioral plasticity. Recent studies have made rapid progress in determining molecular and cellular mechanisms that translate the metabolic needs of the fly into changes in neuroendocrine and neuromodulatory states. These neuromodulators in turn promote or inhibit discrete feeding behavioral subprograms. This review highlights the links between physiological needs, neuromodulatory states, and feeding decisions.

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Graded Encoding of Food Odor Value in theDrosophilaBrain

Cited by 71 publications

References 68 publications

Enhancing Perception of Contaminated Food through Acid-Mediated Modulation of Taste Neuron Responses

Enhancing Perception of Contaminated Food through Acid-Mediated Modulation of Taste Neuron Responses

Amplitude and dynamics of polarization-plane signaling in the central complex of the locust brain

Feeding regulation in Drosophila

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