A double negative post-transcriptional regulatory circuit mediates the virgin behavioral state

ABSTRACT: The survival and reproductive success of animals depends on the ability to harmonize their external behaviors with their internal states. For example, females conduct numerous social programs that are distinctive to virgins compared to post-mated and/or pregnant individuals. In Drosophila, the fact that the post-mating switch is initiated by seminal factors implies the default state as virgin. Recently, we uncovered molecular and genetic control of the female virgin state. In particular, repression of the transcription factor Homothorax (Hth) by mir-iab-4/8 within the abdominal ventral nerve cord (VNC) is critical for unmated females to execute virgin behaviors. To elucidate new components of this regulatory circuit, we exploited mir-iab-4/8 deletion and hth-miRNA binding site mutants (hth[BSmut]) to elucidate doublesex (dsx) as a critical downstream factor. While Dsx has mostly been studied during sex-specific differentiation, its activities in neurons are little known. We find that accumulation of Dsx in the CNS is mutually exclusive with Hth, and downregulated in miRNA/hth[BSmut] mutants. Moreover, experimental suppression of Dsx in highly restricted sets of abdominal neurons abrogates female virgin conducts, in favor of mated behavioral programs. Thus, a double negative pathway in the VNC mediates the virgin behavioral state.

ORGANISM(S): Drosophila melanogaster

PROVIDER: GSE166562 | GEO | 2021/06/29

REPOSITORIES: GEO