RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A pleiotropic chemoreceptor facilitates the functional coupling of pheromone production and perception
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2022.01.10.475668
DO 10.1101/2022.01.10.475668
A1 Vernier, Cassondra
A1 Zelle, Kathleen M.
A1 Leitner, Nicole
A1 Liang, Xitong
A1 Halloran, Sean
A1 Millar, Jocelyn G.
A1 Ben-Shahar, Yehuda
YR 2022
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/01/10/2022.01.10.475668.abstract
AB Optimal mating decisions depend on the robust coupling of signal production and perception because independent changes in either could carry a fitness cost. However, since the perception and production of mating signals are often mediated by different tissues and cell types, the mechanisms that drive and maintain their coupling remain unknown for most animal species. Here, we show that in Drosophila, sensory perception and production of an inhibitory mating pheromone are co-regulated by Gr8a, a member of the Gustatory receptor gene family. Specifically, we found that the pleiotropic action of Gr8a independently regulates the perception of pheromones by the chemosensory systems of males and females, as well as their production in the fat body and oenocytes of males. These findings provide a relatively simple molecular explanation for how pleiotropic receptors maintain robust mating signaling systems at the population and species levels.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.