Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research

Neuropeptide Bursicon and its receptor mediated the transition from summer-form to winter-form of Cacopsylla chinensis

This study identifies Bursicon and its receptor as key regulators of the summer-to-winter form transition in Cacopsylla chinensis by modulating cuticle properties.

Glutamate, GABA, and dense-core vesicle secretion regulate predatory feeding in the nematode Pristionchus pacificus

This study identifies roles for glutamate, GABA, and dense-core vesicle secretion in predatory feeding of P. pacificus using CRISPR/Cas9 mutants.

Steering From the Rear: Coordination of Central Pattern Generators Underlying Navigation by Ascending Interneurons

This study investigates how ascending interneurons in Drosophila larvae coordinate motor programs for navigation by modulating central pattern generators.

Dynamic changes in neuronal and glial GAL4 driver expression during Drosophila ageing

The paper shows that GAL4 driver expression in Drosophila declines rapidly with age, with some drivers losing activity within 30 days.

Adult expression of the cell adhesion protein Fasciclin 3 is required for the maintenance of adult olfactory interneurons

This study shows that Fasciclin 3 is required for the maintenance of adult olfactory interneurons in Drosophila, as its knockdown leads to neuronal death and reduced adult survival.

Neural-circuit basis of song preference learning in fruit flies

This study identifies reciprocal neural circuits between pC1 and pCd-2 neurons in Drosophila that mediate song preference learning through GABAergic and dopaminergic inputs.

Pheromone representation in the ant antennal lobe changes with age

This study examines how odor coding in the antennal lobe of ants changes with age, finding that alarm pheromone responses in specific glomeruli increase while general odorant responses decrease.

A microRNA that controls the emergence of embryonic movement

The paper identifies miR-2b-1 as a microRNA regulating embryonic movement in Drosophila by targeting the chloride channel gene Motor.

The Drosophila tyramine-beta-hydroxylase gene encodes multiple isoforms with different functions

This paper identifies multiple Tbh isoforms in Drosophila with distinct functions in neurotransmitter synthesis and behavior.

Mechanosensory stimulation triggers sustained local motor activity in Drosophila melanogaster

This study shows that mechanosensory stimulation in Drosophila can trigger sustained motor activity independently of brain centers, revealing a parallel pathway for fast movement initiation.

Natural variation in protein kinase D modifies alcohol sensitivity in Caenorhabditis elegans

This study identifies genetic variants affecting alcohol sensitivity in C. elegans, highlighting a potential druggable target for alcohol use disorders.

Evolution of connectivity architecture in the Drosophila mushroom body

The paper compares connectivity patterns in the Drosophila mushroom body across species to show how evolutionary changes in neuronal connectivity relate to chemical ecology.

High-resolution, high-throughput analysis of Drosophila geotactic behavior

This paper introduces an automated system for high-resolution analysis of Drosophila geotactic behavior, enabling detailed and quantitative assessment of locomotor performance.

Glycolytic Disruption Triggers Interorgan Signaling to Nonautonomously Restrict Drosophila Larval Growth

The paper shows that disrupting glycolysis in Drosophila larvae leads to systemic cytokine signaling changes, nonautonomously restricting growth.

Networks of descending neurons transform command-like signals into population-based behavioral control

The paper shows that command-like descending neurons in Drosophila recruit larger networks of neurons to generate flexible behaviors, with network size predicting the need for recruitment.

Comparative connectomics of the descending and ascending neurons of the Drosophila nervous system: stereotypy and sexual dimorphism

The paper provides a connectomic description of ascending and descending neurons in the Drosophila nervous system, revealing sexual dimorphism and motor-related circuits.

Peptidergic neurons with extensive branching orchestrate the internal states and energy balance of male Drosophila melanogaster.

This study identifies SIFa neurons in Drosophila that integrate internal and external signals to regulate energy balance, sleep, and mating behavior through context-dependent feedback loops.

Long-range neuropeptide relay as a central-peripheral communication mechanism for the context-dependent modulation of interval timing behaviors.

This study identifies the SIFa-SIFaR/Crz-CrzR neuropeptide relay pathway as essential for context-dependent interval timing behaviors in Drosophila.

A temporally restricted function of the Dopamine receptor Dop1R2 during memory formation

This study shows that Dop1R2 is required for later memory forms but not short-term memories in Drosophila, with specific spatial requirements in the Mushroom body lobes.

A multiscale sensorimotor model of experience-dependent behavior in a minimal organism

The paper develops a multiscale model of experience-dependent behavior in C. elegans, integrating molecular, cellular, and organismal levels to replicate chemotaxis behavior and predict mutant phenotypes.

A neural circuit architecture for rapid behavioral flexibility in goal-directed navigation

This paper describes a neural circuit framework in Drosophila that enables rapid behavioral adaptation through head direction and goal representations during navigation.

Tango-seq: overlaying transcriptomics on connectomics to identify neurons downstream of Drosophila clock neurons

The paper introduces Tango-seq to overlay transcriptomic data on connectomes, identifying neurons downstream of Drosophila clock neurons and revealing synaptic connections and plasticity.

Sex-Specific Developmental Gene Expression Atlas Unveils Dimorphic Gene Networks in C. elegans

This study creates a gene expression atlas for C. elegans sexes, identifying sex-specific genes and their roles in development and physiology.

Loss of glia-neuronal interactions and age-dependent cell death in a Drosophila model of adult neurodegeneration

This study examines glial dysfunction in Drosophila drd mutants, showing abnormal glia morphology and age-dependent neuronal apoptosis leading to early death.

Shallow networks run deep: Peripheral preprocessing facilitates odor classification

This study shows that shallow peripheral preprocessing in Drosophila improves odor classification by shaping downstream connectivity and amplifying hedonic signals.

Exploration-exploitation trade-off is regulated by metabolic state and taste value in Drosophila

This study investigates how metabolic state and taste value influence exploration-exploitation trade-offs in Drosophila using a novel foraging assay.

Drosophila males require the longitudinal stretch receptors to tremulate their abdomen and produce substrate-borne signals during courtship

The paper identifies dorsal abdominal longitudinal stretch receptors and the TRPA1 channel as essential for Drosophila males to produce substrate-borne courtship signals through abdominal tremulation.

HisCl1 regulates gustatory habituation in sweet taste neurons and mediates sugar ingestion in Drosophila

This study identifies HisCl1 as a regulator of gustatory habituation in Drosophila sweet taste neurons, showing it reduces spike frequency adaptation and mediates sugar ingestion.

Odorant receptors for floral- and plant-derived volatiles in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

This study identifies odorant receptor-ligand pairs in Aedes aegypti that mediate responses to floral and plant volatiles, informing mosquito control strategies.

Alcohol-induced sleep dysregulation in Drosophila is dependent on the neuropeptide PDF

This study investigates how alcohol affects sleep in Drosophila by showing that manipulating specific neurons and the neuropeptide PDF alters sleep patterns and tolerance.