Elucidation of the neuroendocrine control of hatching behavior

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22645
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0702:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Okamoto Naoki 筑波大学, 生存ダイナミクス研究センター, 助教 (10577969)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 生得的行動 / 孵化行動 / 神経分泌ペプチド / 孵化ホルモン / キイロショウジョウバエ / 昆虫 / ペプチドホルモン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Animal innate behaviors are appropriately regulated in response to environmental factors. In this study, we used the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, a model organism with powerful genetic tools, to identify insect hatching hormone(s) and understand neural and endocrine mechanisms for regulating hatching behavior. This study suggested that amidated neuropeptides function as hatching hormones. In addition, this study suggested that multiple neuropeptides redundantly act as hatching hormones in Drosophila. Although we have not been able to elucidate the nature of the hatching hormones at this point, we have obtained essential research results for future studies.

Free Research Field

発生生物学、比較内分泌学、昆虫生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

卵生の動物において普遍的な初期発生現象である孵化の誘導機構については、これまでの研究では主に卵膜分解の分子機構や環境要因の解析に焦点が当てられてきた。本研究は、ショウジョウバエの豊富な遺伝学的ツールを利用することにより、孵化行動を制御する神経ペプチドの同定に迫る上で重要な成果が得られたことから、これまで未解明である孵化行動の神経・内分泌系による調節機構の理解に大きな進歩をもたらすと考えられる。