Abstract
The sensilla on the proboscis and tarsi of Drosophila contain five neurons, four chemosensory and one mechanosensory1–3. The sugar-sensitive neuron, designated S, carries independent acceptor sites for pyranose, furanose and trehalose4–7. Two others, L1 and L2, respond to salts2. The fourth neuron, W, is inhibited by salts and sugars, and is believed to mediate detection of water. We describe here a gene in which mutations alter the neurons in such a way that the S cell is excited by salts. As a result, the mutant flies are strongly attracted by NaCl at concentrations which are repellent to the wild type. To our knowledge, this is the first instance of a mutation which changes the specificity of the chemosensory neurons.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
1. Falk, R., Bleiser-Avivi, N. & Atidia, J. J. Morph. 150, 327-341 (1976). 2. Rodrigues, V. & Siddiqi, O. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. B 87, 147-160 (1978). 3. Nayak, S. V. & Singh, R. N. Int. J. Insect. Morph. Emryol. 12, 273-291 (1983). 4. Tanimura, T. & Shimada, I. 7. comp. Physiol. 141, 265-269 (1981). 5. Tanimura, T., Isono, K. & Takamura, I. 7. comp. Physiol. 147, 433-437 (1982). 6. Rodrigues, V. & Siddiqi, O. Molec. gen. Genet. 181, 406-408 (1981). 7. Dethier, V. G. The Hungry Fly (Harvard University Press, Massachusetts, 1976). 8. Arora, K. thesis, Bombay Univ. (1985). 9. Hodgson, E. S., Lettvin, J. Y. & Roeder, K. D. Science 122, 417-418 (1955). 10. Fujishiro, N., Kijima, H. & Morita, H. 7. Insect Physiol. 30, 317-325 (1984). 11. Falk, R. & Atidia, J. Nature 254, 325-326 (1975). 12. Tompkins, L., Cardosa, J., White, F. & Sanders, T. G. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 884-887 (1979).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arora, K., Rodrigues, V., Joshi, S. et al. A gene affecting the specificity of the chemosensory neurons of Drosophila. Nature 330, 62–63 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/330062a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/330062a0
This article is cited by
-
A map of taste neuron projections in the Drosophila CNS
Journal of Biosciences (2014)
-
Taste and pheromone perception in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster
Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology (2007)
-
Gust J, a salt-insensitive mutant ofDrosophila melanogaster
Journal of Genetics (1997)
-
The organization of the chemosensory system in Drosophila melanogaster: a rewiew
Cell and Tissue Research (1994)
-
The function of the proneural genes achaete and scute in the spatio-temporal patterning of the adult labellar bristles of Drosophila melanogaster
Roux's Archives of Developmental Biology (1994)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
