Regulatory mechanisms of gustatory circuit and feeding behavior by the neural Ig receptors

DSCAM编码一种神经Ig受体，通过选择性剪接可以产生超过38,000种异构体。在味觉细胞中敲除Dscam可导致味觉细胞与次级神经元之间突触的丢失。这些果蝇表现出食欲下降或对苦味化合物的行为回避减少。相比之下，具有22,000个异构体的突变果蝇与野生型果蝇的取食行为没有区别。我们的结果表明，Dscam对于味觉回路中突触的形成和摄食行为是必不可少的，但可能不需要全套Dscam亚型。

Dscam, which encodes a neural Ig receptor, can generate more than 38,000 isoforms via alternative splicing. Dscam knock-down in taste cells induced loss of synapses between taste cells and secondary neurons. These flies showed reduced appetite or a decreased behavioral avoidance to bitter compounds. In contrast, the revertant flies with 22,000 isoforms showed indistinguishable feeding behavior with wildtype. Our results suggest that Dscam is essential for synapse formation in gustatory circuits and for the feeding behavior, but the full set of Dscam isoforms may not be required.