Tachykinin-related peptides modulate odor perception and locomotoractivity in Drosophila

• The invertebrate tachykinin-related peptides (TKRPs) constitute aconserved family, structurally related to the mammalian tachykinins,including members such as substance P and neurokinins A and B.Although their expression has been documented in the brains of insectsand mammals, their neural functions remain largely unknown,particularly in behavior. Here, we have studied the role of TKRPs inDrosophila. We have analyzed the olfactory perception and thelocomotor activity of individuals in which TKRPs are eliminated inthe nervous system specifically, by using RNAi constructs to silencegene expression. The perception of specific odorants and concentrationsis modified towards a loss of sensitivity, thus resulting in asignificant change of the behavioral response towards indifference. Inlocomotion assays, the TKRP-deficient flies show hyperactivity. Weconclude that these peptides are modulators of olfactory perceptionand locomotion activity in agreement with their abundant expression inthe olfactory lobes and central complex. In these brain centers, TKRPsseem to enhance the regulatory inhibition of the neurons in which theyare expressed.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Neuropeptide

RNA interference

Antennal lobe

Central body complex

Olfaction

Locomotion

Neurobiology

Neurobiologi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)