1. Nutrient Sensor in the Brain Directs the Action of the Brain-Gut Axis in Drosophila.
- Author
-
Dus M, Lai JS, Gunapala KM, Min S, Tayler TD, Hergarden AC, Geraud E, Joseph CM, and Suh GS
- Subjects
- Animals, Drosophila, Drosophila Proteins drug effects, Feedback, Sensory, Fructose pharmacology, Glucose pharmacology, Neurosecretion drug effects, Nutritive Sweeteners pharmacology, Receptors, Cell Surface drug effects, Receptors, Cell Surface metabolism, Trehalose pharmacology, Brain metabolism, Drosophila Proteins metabolism, Feeding Behavior physiology, Insect Hormones metabolism, Neurons metabolism, Nutritive Sweeteners metabolism
- Abstract
Animals can detect and consume nutritive sugars without the influence of taste. However, the identity of the taste-independent nutrient sensor and the mechanism by which animals respond to the nutritional value of sugar are unclear. Here, we report that six neurosecretory cells in the Drosophila brain that produce Diuretic hormone 44 (Dh44), a homolog of the mammalian corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), were specifically activated by nutritive sugars. Flies in which the activity of these neurons or the expression of Dh44 was disrupted failed to select nutritive sugars. Manipulation of the function of Dh44 receptors had a similar effect. Notably, artificial activation of Dh44 receptor-1 neurons resulted in proboscis extensions and frequent episodes of excretion. Conversely, reduced Dh44 activity led to decreased excretion. Together, these actions facilitate ingestion and digestion of nutritive foods. We propose that the Dh44 system directs the detection and consumption of nutritive sugars through a positive feedback loop., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF