Dynamics and roles of aminergic neurons in pheromone processing.

2021 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06895
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: MERCIER DAMIEN 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 脳神経科学研究センター, 客員研究員 (60604840)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Bioluminescence / calcium imaging / pheromone / Drosophila

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Last year, we conducted a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis to quantify the amount of cuticular hydrocarbons contained in olfactory landmarks and found that information about the identity of both sex and age of the landmark depositor can be decoded from the content of landmarks. Therefore, this year, we examined if the flies can read out the differences in the content of cuticular hydrocarbons in landmarks and behave accordingly. We prepared landmarks deposited by males of different ages and measured the time the male testers spend time close to these landmarks. As a result, we found that the tester flies spend different amount of time depending on the age of the depositors.
Regarding the development of a new bioluminescence probe, we have expressed one probe in different types of cells and quantified the amount of light detected in each condition. Optimization of the protocol and construction of better probes are still ongoing. In the meantime, to examine the neural responses to ethologically relevant odorants contained in landmarks, we have started to measure the neural activity in olfactory neurons and dopaminergic neurons under a two-photon microscope.