Olfactory Neurons and Brain Centers Directing Oviposition Decisions in Drosophila

Summary: The sense of smell influences many behaviors, yet how odors are represented in the brain remains unclear. A major challenge to studying olfaction is the lack of methods allowing activation of specific types of olfactory neurons in an ethologically relevant setting. To address this, we devel...

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Main Authors: Sonia G. Chin, Sarah E. Maguire, Paavo Huoviala, Gregory S.X.E. Jefferis, Christopher J. Potter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2018-08-01
Series:Cell Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124718311082
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author Sonia G. Chin
Sarah E. Maguire
Paavo Huoviala
Gregory S.X.E. Jefferis
Christopher J. Potter
author_facet Sonia G. Chin
Sarah E. Maguire
Paavo Huoviala
Gregory S.X.E. Jefferis
Christopher J. Potter
author_sort Sonia G. Chin
collection DOAJ
description Summary: The sense of smell influences many behaviors, yet how odors are represented in the brain remains unclear. A major challenge to studying olfaction is the lack of methods allowing activation of specific types of olfactory neurons in an ethologically relevant setting. To address this, we developed a genetic method in Drosophila called olfactogenetics in which a narrowly tuned odorant receptor, Or56a, is ectopically expressed in different olfactory neuron types. Stimulation with geosmin (the only known Or56a ligand) in an Or56a mutant background leads to specific activation of only target olfactory neuron types. We used this approach to identify olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) that directly guide oviposition decisions. We identify 5 OSN-types (Or71a, Or47b, Or49a, Or67b, and Or7a) that, when activated alone, suppress oviposition. Projection neurons partnering with these OSNs share a region of innervation in the lateral horn, suggesting that oviposition site selection might be encoded in this brain region. : Linking olfactory neurons to discrete behaviors is challenging. To address this, Chin et al. develop a genetic method in Drosophila that uses an odor to selectively activate different olfactory neurons. From a behavioral screen, they identify olfactory neurons and brain regions that might underlie aversive egg-laying decisions. Keywords: olfaction, oviposition, olfactory, olfactogenetics, geosmin, vinegar fly, genetics, genetic technique, odorant receptors, projection neurons
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spelling doaj.art-2d92119dedfc4ac4bcd73ff8570d0e8b2022-12-22T00:32:29ZengElsevierCell Reports2211-12472018-08-0124616671678Olfactory Neurons and Brain Centers Directing Oviposition Decisions in DrosophilaSonia G. Chin0Sarah E. Maguire1Paavo Huoviala2Gregory S.X.E. Jefferis3Christopher J. Potter4Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USASolomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USADivision of Neurobiology, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 OQH, UKDivision of Neurobiology, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 OQH, UKSolomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Corresponding authorSummary: The sense of smell influences many behaviors, yet how odors are represented in the brain remains unclear. A major challenge to studying olfaction is the lack of methods allowing activation of specific types of olfactory neurons in an ethologically relevant setting. To address this, we developed a genetic method in Drosophila called olfactogenetics in which a narrowly tuned odorant receptor, Or56a, is ectopically expressed in different olfactory neuron types. Stimulation with geosmin (the only known Or56a ligand) in an Or56a mutant background leads to specific activation of only target olfactory neuron types. We used this approach to identify olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) that directly guide oviposition decisions. We identify 5 OSN-types (Or71a, Or47b, Or49a, Or67b, and Or7a) that, when activated alone, suppress oviposition. Projection neurons partnering with these OSNs share a region of innervation in the lateral horn, suggesting that oviposition site selection might be encoded in this brain region. : Linking olfactory neurons to discrete behaviors is challenging. To address this, Chin et al. develop a genetic method in Drosophila that uses an odor to selectively activate different olfactory neurons. From a behavioral screen, they identify olfactory neurons and brain regions that might underlie aversive egg-laying decisions. Keywords: olfaction, oviposition, olfactory, olfactogenetics, geosmin, vinegar fly, genetics, genetic technique, odorant receptors, projection neuronshttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124718311082
spellingShingle Sonia G. Chin
Sarah E. Maguire
Paavo Huoviala
Gregory S.X.E. Jefferis
Christopher J. Potter
Olfactory Neurons and Brain Centers Directing Oviposition Decisions in Drosophila
Cell Reports
title Olfactory Neurons and Brain Centers Directing Oviposition Decisions in Drosophila
title_full Olfactory Neurons and Brain Centers Directing Oviposition Decisions in Drosophila
title_fullStr Olfactory Neurons and Brain Centers Directing Oviposition Decisions in Drosophila
title_full_unstemmed Olfactory Neurons and Brain Centers Directing Oviposition Decisions in Drosophila
title_short Olfactory Neurons and Brain Centers Directing Oviposition Decisions in Drosophila
title_sort olfactory neurons and brain centers directing oviposition decisions in drosophila
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124718311082
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