Hormonal Modulation of Pheromone Detection Enhances Male Courtship Success.
During the lifespans of most animals, reproductive maturity and mating activity are highly coordinated. In Drosophila melanogaster, for instance, male fertility increases with age, and older males are known to have a copulation advantage over young ones. The molecular and neural basis of this age-related disparity in mating behavior is unknown. Here, we show that the Or47b odorant receptor is required for the copulation advantage of older males. Notably, the sensitivity of Or47b neurons to a stimulatory pheromone, palmitoleic acid, is low in young males but high in older ones, which accounts for older males' higher courtship intensity. Mechanistically, this age-related sensitization of Or47b neurons requires a reproductive hormone, juvenile hormone, as well as its binding protein Methoprene-tolerant in Or47b neurons. Together, our study identifies a direct neural substrate for juvenile hormone that permits coordination of courtship activity with reproductive maturity to maximize male reproductive fitness.
Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Hui-Hao
HH
Lin
Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
De-Shou
DS
Cao
Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Sachin
S
Sethi
Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Zheng
Z
Zeng
Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, Singapore 117604, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
Jacqueline S R
JSR
Chin
Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Tuhin Subhra
TS
Chakraborty
Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Andrew K
AK
Shepherd
Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Christine A
CA
Nguyen
Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 1993 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
Joanne Y
JY
Yew
Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: c8su@ucsd.edu.
Chih-Ying
CY
Su
Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: jw800@ucsd.edu.
Jing W
JW
Wang
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003307:Copulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003380:Courtship; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007605:Juvenile Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008726:Methoprene / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D010675:Pheromones / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D007605:Juvenile Hormones; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008726:Methoprene; D010675:Pheromones; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; C111234:MET protein, Drosophila; C574157:Or47b protein, Drosophila; C008757:palmitoleic acid