Molecular genetic analysis of central neurons regulating feeding motor patterns in Drosophila

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We are studying how the brain perceives and processes taste information in Drosophila. We have identified a small cluster of neurons in the brain which expresses the neuropeptide gene hugin. These neurons project axons to pharyngeal muscles, to the central endocrine organ and to the higher brain centers (the mushroom bodies). In turn, dendrites of hugin expressing neurons are innervated by axons from chemosensory neurons in the external mouth and internal pharynx regions that express gustatory receptors. Blocking synaptic transmission in hugin neurons results in specific alteration in feeding behavior which is dependent on previous food condition. These results suggest that hugin neurons act as taste interneurons that relay and process taste information to modulate motor, endocrine and higher brain functions. This proposal aims to analyse the function of the hugin neurons within the brain taste circuitry by molecular genetic, behavioral and high resolution imaging approaches. This includes detailed characterization of hugin gene function in vivo using gene knockout and cell ablation experiments, the analysis of neurotransmitter function in these neurons with an initial focus on dopamine, and in vivo Ca imaging of hugin neuronal activity in response to different taste stimuli.