title: A small group of neurosecretory cells expressing the transcriptional regulator apontic and the neuropeptide corazonin mediate ethanol sedation in Drosophila.
abstract: In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, as in mammals, acute exposure to a high dose of ethanol leads to stereotypical behavioral changes beginning with increased activity, followed by incoordination, loss of postural control, and eventually, sedation. The mechanism(s) by which ethanol impacts the CNS leading to ethanol-induced sedation and the genes required for normal sedation sensitivity remain largely unknown. Here we identify the gene apontic (apt), an Myb/SANT-containing transcription factor that is required in the nervous system for normal sensitivity to ethanol sedation. Using genetic and behavioral analyses, we show that apt mediates sensitivity to ethanol sedation by acting in a small set of neurons that express Corazonin (Crz), a neuropeptide likely involved in the physiological response to stress. The activity of Crz neurons regulates the behavioral response to ethanol, as silencing and activating these neurons affects sedation sensitivity in opposite ways. Furthermore, this effect is mediated by Crz, as flies with reduced crz expression show reduced sensitivity to ethanol sedation. Finally, we find that both apt and crz are rapidly upregulated by acute ethanol exposure. Thus, we have identified two genes and a small set of peptidergic neurons that regulate sensitivity to ethanol-induced sedation. We propose that Apt regulates the activity of Crz neurons and/or release of the neuropeptide during ethanol exposure.
authors: Department of Anatomy and Program in Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, USA. kimberly.mcclure@elmhurst.edu
authors: Kimberly D
authors: KD
authors: McClure
authors: Ulrike
authors: U
authors: Heberlein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C489221:Crz protein, Drosophila; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C557617:GAL4 protein, Drosophila; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C108529:apt protein, Drosophila; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D000431:Ethanol