A Database of Drosophila Genes & Genomes

FB2013_03, released May 7th, 2013
 

Reference Report

Reference
Citation Watanabe, K., Toba, G., Koganezawa, M., Yamamoto, D. (2011). Gr39a, a Highly Diversified Gustatory Receptor in Drosophila, has a Role in Sexual Behavior.  Behav. Genet. 41(5): 746--753. (Export to RIS)
FlyBase ID FBrf0214804
Publication Type Research paper
PubMed ID 21416142
PubMed Abstract Sexual recognition among individuals is crucial for the reproduction of animals. In Drosophila, like in many other animals, pheromones are suggested to play an important role in conveying information about an individual, such as sex, maturity and mating status. Sex-specific cuticular hydrocarbon components are thought to be major sex pheromones in Drosophila, and are postulated to act through the gustatory system, since they are mostly non-volatile chemicals. However, very little is known about the molecular and neural bases of gustatory pheromone reception. So far, a few putative gustatory receptors, including Gr32a and Gr68a, have been implicated in courtship behavior. Here, we examine another putative gustatory receptor, Gr39a, which shares a cluster with both Gr32a and Gr68a in a molecular phylogeny of the gustatory receptor family, for its potential role in courtship behavior. The Gr39a gene produces four isoforms through alternative splicing of different 5'-most exons. A quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of all four splice variants of Gr39a were reduced in a fly line in which a P element was inserted into the Gr39a locus. Homozygous and hemizygous males for the P-element insertion, as well as males in which Gr39a was knocked down by RNAi, all showed reduced courtship levels toward females. The courtship levels returned to normal when the P element was excised out. A close analysis of courtship behavior of the mutant males revealed that the average duration of a continuous courtship bout was significantly shorter in the mutants than in the wild type. The results suggest that Gr39a has a role in sustaining courtship behavior in males, possibly through the reception of a stimulating arrestant pheromone.
DOI 10.1007/s10519-011-9461-6
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Language of Publication English
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Publication Type Journal
Abbreviation Behav. Genet.
Title Behavior Genetics
Publication Year 1970-
ISBN/ISSN 0001-8244
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