Sex-Specific Signaling in the Blood-Brain Barrier Is Required for Male Courtship in Drosophila

Valbona Hoxha, Chamala Lama, Peter L. Chang, Sumit Saurabh, Naiya Patel, Nicole Olate, Brigitte Dauwalder

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Soluble circulating proteins play an important role in the regulation of mating behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. However, how these factors signal through the blood-brain barrier (bbb) to interact with the sex-specific brain circuits that control courtship is unknown. Here we show that male identity of the blood-brain barrier is necessary and that male-specific factors in the bbb are physiologically required for normal male courtship behavior. Feminization of the bbb of adult males significantly reduces male courtship. We show that the bbb-specific G-protein coupled receptor moody and bbb-specific Go signaling in adult males are necessary for normal courtship. These data identify sex-specific factors and signaling processes in the bbb as important regulators of male mating behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere1003217
JournalPLoS genetics
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Genetics(clinical)
  • Cancer Research

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