title: Obp56h Modulates Mating Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Social interactions in insects are driven by conspecific chemical signals that are detected via olfactory and gustatory neurons. Odorant binding proteins (Obps) transport volatile odorants to chemosensory receptors, but their effects on behaviors remain poorly characterized. Here, we report that RNAi knockdown of Obp56h gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster enhances mating behavior by reducing courtship latency. The change in mating behavior that results from inhibition of Obp56h expression is accompanied by significant alterations in cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) composition, including reduction in 5-tricosene (5-T), an inhibitory sex pheromone produced by males that increases copulation latency during courtship. Whole genome RNA sequencing confirms that expression of Obp56h is virtually abolished in Drosophila heads. Inhibition of Obp56h expression also affects expression of other chemoreception genes, including upregulation of lush in both sexes and Obp83ef in females, and reduction in expression of Obp19b and Or19b in males. In addition, several genes associated with lipid metabolism, which underlies the production of cuticular hydrocarbons, show altered transcript abundances. Our data show that modulation of mating behavior through reduction of Obp56h is accompanied by altered cuticular hydrocarbon profiles and implicate 5-T as a possible ligand for Obp56h.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Shorter
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
authors: Lauren M
authors: LM
authors: Dembeck
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
authors: Logan J
authors: LJ
authors: Everett
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
authors: Tatiana V
authors: TV
authors: Morozova
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
authors: Gunjan H
authors: GH
authors: Arya
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
authors: Lavanya
authors: L
authors: Turlapati
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
authors: Genevieve E
authors: GE
authors: St Armour
authors: Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Program in Genetics and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
authors: Coby
authors: C
authors: Schal
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
authors: Trudy F C
authors: TF
authors: Mackay
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695 anholt@ncsu.edu.
authors: Robert R H
authors: 0000-0001-7196-8324
authors: RR
authors: Anholt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D003307:Copulation; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D055432:Metabolomics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D034622:RNA Interference; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; C045648:odorant-binding protein
keywords: 5-tricosene; FlyBook; cuticular hydrocarbon; odorant binding protein; olfaction; pheromone