Histamine is a fermented food product that exerts adverse health effects on animals when consumed in high amounts. This biogenic amine is fermented by microorganisms from histidine through the activity of histidine decarboxylase. Drosophila melanogaster can discriminate histidine and histamine using GR22e and IR76b in bitter-sensing gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs). In this study, RNA interference screens were conducted to examine 28 uncharacterized gustatory receptor genes using electrophys...

Vitellogenesis (yolk accumulation) begins upon eclosion and continues through the process of sexual maturation. Upon reaching sexual maturity, vitellogenesis is placed on hold until it is induced again by mating. However, the mechanisms that gate vitellogenesis in response to developmental and reproductive signals remain unclear. Here, we have identified the neu- ropeptide allatostatin-C (AstC)-producing neurons that gate both the initiation of vitello- genesis that occurs post-eclosion and i...

Kohlschu ̈tter-To ̈nz syndrome (KTS) manifests as neurological dysfunctions, including early- onset seizures. Mutations in the citrate transporter SLC13A5 are associated with KTS, yet their underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that a Drosophila SLC13A5 homolog, I’m not dead yet (Indy), constitutes a neurometabolic pathway that suppresses seizure. Loss of Indy function in glutamatergic neurons caused “bang-induced” seizure-like behaviors. In fact, glutamate biosynthesi...

BACKGROUND: IR3535 is among the most widely used synthetic insect repellents, particularly for the mitigation of mosquito- borne diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue and Zika, as well as to control flies, ticks, fleas, lice and mites. These insects are well-known vectors of deadly diseases that affect humans, livestock and crops. Moreover, global warming could increase the populations of these vectors. RESULTS: Here, we performed IR3535 dose–response ...

Age-related memory impairment (AMI) occurs in many species, including humans. The underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In wild-type Drosophila (w1118), AMI appears in the form of a decrease in learning (3-min memory) from middle age (30 days after eclosion [DAE]). We performed in vivo, DNA microarray, and behavioral screen studies to identify genes controlling both lifespan and AMI and selected mi- tochondrial Acon1 (mAcon1). mAcon1 expression in the head of w1118 decreased with ag...

C9ORF72-derived dipeptide repeat proteins have emerged as the pathogenic cause of neurodegener- ation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotem- poral dementia (C9-ALS/FTD). However, the mecha- nisms underlying their expression are not fully un- derstood. Here, we demonstrate that ZNF598, the rate-limiting factor for ribosome-associated qual- ity control (RQC), co-translationally titrates the ex- pression of C9ORF72-derived poly(GR) protein. A Drosophila genetic screen identified key RQC...

Metabolism influences locomotor behaviors, but the understanding of neural curcuit control for that is limited. Under standard light-dark cycles, Drosophila exhibits bimodal morning (M) and evening (E) locomotor activities that are controlled by clock neurons. Here, we showed that a high-nutrient diet progressively extended M activity but not E activity. Drosophila tachykinin (DTk) and Tachykinin-like receptor at 86C (TkR86C)-mediated signaling was required for the extension of M activity. DT...