Molecular characterization of gustatory second-order neurons reveals integrative mechanisms of gustatory and metabolic information
Animals must balance the urgent need to find food during starvation with the critical necessity to avoid toxic substances to ensure their survival. In Drosophila, specialized Gustatory Receptors (GRs) expressed in Gustatory Receptor Neurons (GRNs) are critical for distinguishing between nutritious a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | eLife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/100947 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849428430570913792 |
|---|---|
| author | Rubén Mollá-Albaladejo Manuel Jiménez-Caballero Juan Antonio Sanchez-Alcaniz |
| author_facet | Rubén Mollá-Albaladejo Manuel Jiménez-Caballero Juan Antonio Sanchez-Alcaniz |
| author_sort | Rubén Mollá-Albaladejo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Animals must balance the urgent need to find food during starvation with the critical necessity to avoid toxic substances to ensure their survival. In Drosophila, specialized Gustatory Receptors (GRs) expressed in Gustatory Receptor Neurons (GRNs) are critical for distinguishing between nutritious and potentially toxic food. GRNs project their axons from taste organs to the Subesophageal Zone (SEZ) in the Central Brain (CB) of Drosophila, where gustatory information is processed. Although the roles of GRs and GRNs are well-documented, the processing of gustatory information in the SEZ remains unclear. To better understand gustatory sensory processing and feeding decision-making, we molecularly characterized the first layer of gustatory interneurons, referred to as Gustatory Second-Order Neurons (G2Ns), which receive direct input from GRNs. Using trans-synaptic tracing with trans-Tango, cell sorting, and bulk RNAseq under fed and starved conditions, we discovered that G2Ns vary based on gustatory input and that their molecular profile changes with the fly’s metabolic state. Further data analysis has revealed that a pair of neurons in the SEZ, expressing the neuropeptide Leucokinin (SELK neurons), receive simultaneous input from GRNs sensing bitter (potentially toxic) and sweet (nutritious) information. Additionally, these neurons also receive inputs regarding the starvation levels of the fly. These results highlight a novel mechanism of feeding regulation and metabolic integration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3b68bcb849c3489a8dbac81ececf25f9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj-art-3b68bcb849c3489a8dbac81ececf25f92025-08-20T03:28:43ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2025-07-011310.7554/eLife.100947Molecular characterization of gustatory second-order neurons reveals integrative mechanisms of gustatory and metabolic informationRubén Mollá-Albaladejo0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9897-9525Manuel Jiménez-Caballero1Juan Antonio Sanchez-Alcaniz2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4900-5086Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, SpainInstituto de Neurociencias, CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, SpainInstituto de Neurociencias, CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, SpainAnimals must balance the urgent need to find food during starvation with the critical necessity to avoid toxic substances to ensure their survival. In Drosophila, specialized Gustatory Receptors (GRs) expressed in Gustatory Receptor Neurons (GRNs) are critical for distinguishing between nutritious and potentially toxic food. GRNs project their axons from taste organs to the Subesophageal Zone (SEZ) in the Central Brain (CB) of Drosophila, where gustatory information is processed. Although the roles of GRs and GRNs are well-documented, the processing of gustatory information in the SEZ remains unclear. To better understand gustatory sensory processing and feeding decision-making, we molecularly characterized the first layer of gustatory interneurons, referred to as Gustatory Second-Order Neurons (G2Ns), which receive direct input from GRNs. Using trans-synaptic tracing with trans-Tango, cell sorting, and bulk RNAseq under fed and starved conditions, we discovered that G2Ns vary based on gustatory input and that their molecular profile changes with the fly’s metabolic state. Further data analysis has revealed that a pair of neurons in the SEZ, expressing the neuropeptide Leucokinin (SELK neurons), receive simultaneous input from GRNs sensing bitter (potentially toxic) and sweet (nutritious) information. Additionally, these neurons also receive inputs regarding the starvation levels of the fly. These results highlight a novel mechanism of feeding regulation and metabolic integration.https://elifesciences.org/articles/100947feedingbehaviorneural circuitsgenetics |
| spellingShingle | Rubén Mollá-Albaladejo Manuel Jiménez-Caballero Juan Antonio Sanchez-Alcaniz Molecular characterization of gustatory second-order neurons reveals integrative mechanisms of gustatory and metabolic information eLife feeding behavior neural circuits genetics |
| title | Molecular characterization of gustatory second-order neurons reveals integrative mechanisms of gustatory and metabolic information |
| title_full | Molecular characterization of gustatory second-order neurons reveals integrative mechanisms of gustatory and metabolic information |
| title_fullStr | Molecular characterization of gustatory second-order neurons reveals integrative mechanisms of gustatory and metabolic information |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular characterization of gustatory second-order neurons reveals integrative mechanisms of gustatory and metabolic information |
| title_short | Molecular characterization of gustatory second-order neurons reveals integrative mechanisms of gustatory and metabolic information |
| title_sort | molecular characterization of gustatory second order neurons reveals integrative mechanisms of gustatory and metabolic information |
| topic | feeding behavior neural circuits genetics |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/100947 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rubenmollaalbaladejo molecularcharacterizationofgustatorysecondorderneuronsrevealsintegrativemechanismsofgustatoryandmetabolicinformation AT manueljimenezcaballero molecularcharacterizationofgustatorysecondorderneuronsrevealsintegrativemechanismsofgustatoryandmetabolicinformation AT juanantoniosanchezalcaniz molecularcharacterizationofgustatorysecondorderneuronsrevealsintegrativemechanismsofgustatoryandmetabolicinformation |