Genes and circuits of courtship behaviour in Drosophila males.
In Drosophila melanogaster, the causal links among a complex behaviour, single neurons and single genes can be demonstrated through experimental manipulations. A key player in establishing the male courtship circuitry is the fruitless (fru) gene, the expression of which yields the FruM proteins in a subset of male but not female neurons. FruM probably regulates chromatin states, leading to single-neuron sex differences and, consequently, a sexually dimorphic circuitry. The mutual connections among fru-expressing neurons--including primary sensory afferents, central interneurons such as the P1 neuron cluster that triggers courtship, and courtship motor pattern generators--probably form the core portion of the male courtship circuitry.
Division of Neurogenetics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
Daisuke
D
Yamamoto
Masayuki
M
Koganezawa
D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003380:Courtship; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C103226:fru protein, Drosophila