Gsalpha is involved in sugar perception in Drosophila melanogaster

J Neurosci. 2006 Jun 7;26(23):6143-52. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0857-06.2006.

Abstract

In Drosophila melanogaster, gustatory receptor genes (Grs) encode G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) and some olfactory receptor neurons. One of the Gr genes, Gr5a, encodes a sugar receptor that is expressed in a subset of GRNs and has been most extensively studied both molecularly and physiologically, but the G-protein alpha subunit (Galpha) that is coupled to this sugar receptor remains unknown. Here, we propose that Gs is the Galpha that is responsible for Gr5a-mediated sugar-taste transduction, based on the following findings: First, immunoreactivities against Gs were detected in a subset of GRNs including all Gr5a-expressing neurons. Second, trehalose-intake is reduced in flies heterozygous for null mutations in DGsalpha, a homolog of mammalian Gs, and trehalose-induced electrical activities in sugar-sensitive GRNs were depressed in those flies. Furthermore, expression of wild-type DGsalpha in sugar-sensitive GRNs in heterozygotic DGsalpha mutant flies rescued those impairments. Third, expression of double-stranded RNA for DGsalpha in sugar-sensitive GRNs depressed both behavioral and electrophysiological responses to trehalose. Together, these findings indicate that DGsalpha is involved in trehalose perception. We suggest that sugar-taste signals are processed through the Gsalpha-mediating signal transduction pathway in sugar-sensitive GRNs in Drosophila.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Carbohydrates*
  • Drosophila Proteins / deficiency
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins / physiology*
  • Drosophila melanogaster
  • Eating / physiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / physiology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Heterozygote
  • Mutation
  • Neurons, Afferent / metabolism
  • Neurons, Afferent / physiology
  • Phospholipase C beta
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / deficiency
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Taste / physiology*
  • Transgenes
  • Trehalose
  • Type C Phospholipases / deficiency
  • Type C Phospholipases / genetics

Substances

  • Carbohydrates
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • gustatory receptor, Drosophila
  • Trehalose
  • Type C Phospholipases
  • NorpA protein, Drosophila
  • Phospholipase C beta
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs