Disentangling the reproductive and metabolic transcriptional responses to diet in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Nutrition significantly influences various life-history traits in organisms, impacting decisions about growth, reproduction, and longevity. Previous studies in Drosophila have demonstrated that diet affects gene transcription, with many genes exhibiting altered expression between protein- and carbohydrate-rich diets. Some responses, such as the upregulation of oogenesis-related genes in protein-rich conditions, are physiologically intuitive, yet it remains challenging to distinguish between metabolic adaptations to different diets and regulation pertaining to reproductive investment in response to nutrient availability. In this study, we explore the transcriptomic responses of virgin and mated flies to changes in nutritional environments. We confirm previous phenotypic findings by observing responses to dietary preferences and nutritional needs. Our results indicate that both nutritional conditions and mating status lead to significant changes in gene expression in females. By comparing responses between virgin and mated flies, we differentiate between basal dietary responses and reproductive adaptations, with the latter involving eight times as many genes as the former. Notably, we identify GATA family transcription factors and the heat-shock factor (Hsf) as crucial regulators of diet-dependent reproductive genes. These findings enhance our understanding of the complex interactions between nutrition and reproductive strategies in Drosophila.