A novel enteric pacemaker activity in Drosophila

Abstract

Enteric organs such as the gut and stomach display the intrinsic ability to generate slow-wave potentials, rhythmic electrochemical events acting as key regulators of gastrointestinal motility. In mammals, slow waves occur as a result of the pacemaker activity of Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICCs) which, by recruiting visceral muscles, ultimately lead to peristalsis. Here, we uncover and characterize a novel mechanism in Drosophila by which the midgut is able to generate strong muscular whip-like contractions. This pacemaker activity, here named superstalsis, is only active at certain physiological conditions and is selectively linked to longitudinal visceral muscle activation. Furthermore, we identify in Subdued, an ortholog gene of the ANO1/TMEM16A family, a marker for peristalsis in Drosophila, specifically associated with circular muscle activity. As fasting and bacterial infections cause specific changes in the intestinal motility profiles in vivo, we propose that the gut can autonomously alter the peristalsis/superstalsis balance to efficiently respond to diverse pathological and homeostatic events.