Neuropeptide F signaling regulates parasitoid-specific germline development and egg-laying in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: Drosophila larvae and pupae are at high risk of parasitoid infection in nature. To circumvent parasitic stress, fruit flies have developed various survival strategies, including cellular and behavioral defenses. We show that adult Drosophila females exposed to the parasitic wasps, Leptopilina boulardi, decrease their total egg-lay by deploying at least two strategies: Retention of fully developed follicles reduces the number of eggs laid, while induction of caspase-mediated apoptosis eliminates the vitellogenic follicles. These reproductive defense strategies require both visual and olfactory cues, but not the MB247-positive mushroom body neuronal function, suggesting a novel mode of sensory integration mediates reduced egg-laying in the presence of a parasitoid. We further show that neuro

SUBMITTER: Sadanandappa MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8026082 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature