Access
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
Letter
Nature 438, 229-233 (10 November 2005) | doi:10.1038/nature04229; Received 8 August 2005; Accepted 12 September 2005
Open Innovation Challenges
-
Direct Molecular Detection of Proteins and Nucleic Acids
This Challenge is looking for novel approaches to protein and nucleic acid detection. This is an Id...
-
Methods to Analyze Consumer Emotions
The Seeker is looking for methods to analyze consumer emotions. This Challenge requires only a writ...
nature jobs
Instrumentation Engineer
- Praj Matrix - Praj Industries Ltd
- Pune, Maharashtra Pune-411021 India
Chemical Process Engineer
- Praj Matrix - Praj Industries Ltd
- Pune, Maharashtra Pune-411021 India
Fruitless specifies sexually dimorphic neural circuitry in the Drosophila brain
Ken-Ichi Kimura1, Manabu Ote2, Tatsunori Tazawa1 & Daisuke Yamamoto2,3
- Laboratory of Biology, Iwamizawa Campus, Hokkaido University of Education, Iwamizawa 068-8642, Japan
- Waseda University, Advanced Institute for Science and Engineering, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
Correspondence to: Ken-Ichi Kimura1 Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to K-I.K. (Email: kimura@iwa.hokkyodai.ac.jp).
Abstract
The Drosophila fruitless (fru) gene product Fru has been postulated to be a neural sex determination factor that directs development of the central nervous system (CNS), thereby producing male-typical courtship behaviour and inducing male-specific muscle1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Male-specific Fru protein is expressed in small groups of neurons scattered throughout the CNS of male, but not female, Drosophila4, 7. Collectively, these observations suggest that Fru 'masculinizes' certain neurons, thereby establishing neural substrates for male-typical behaviour. However, specific differences between neurons resulting from the presence or absence of Fru are unknown. Previous studies have suggested that Fru might result in sexual differences in the CNS at the functional level, as no overt sexual dimorphism in CNS structure was discernible8, 9, 10. Here we identify a subset of fru-expressing interneurons in the brain that show marked sexual dimorphism in their number and projection pattern. We also demonstrate that Fru supports the development of neurons with male-specific dendritic fields, which are programmed to die during female development as a result of the absence of Fru. Thus, Fru expression can produce a male-specific neural circuit, probably used during heterosexual courtship, by preventing cell death in identifiable neurons.
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
NEWS AND VIEWS
Multi-layered regulation of courtship behaviourNature Cell Biology News and Views (01 Aug 2000)
Behavioural neurobiology Females can also be from MarsNature News and Views (30 Aug 2007)
See all 3 matches for News And ViewsRESEARCH
Femtosecond laser nanoaxotomy lab-on-a-chip for in vivo nerve regeneration studiesNature Methods Brief Communication (01 Jun 2008)
Formation of the male-specific muscle in female Drosophila by ectopic fruitless expressionNature Cell Biology Article (01 Aug 2000)
See all 18 matches for Research
