The molecular and cellular basis of bitter taste in Drosophila

Neuron. 2011 Jan 27;69(2):258-72. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2011.01.001.

Abstract

The extent of diversity among bitter-sensing neurons is a fundamental issue in the field of taste. Data are limited and conflicting as to whether bitter neurons are broadly tuned and uniform, resulting in indiscriminate avoidance of bitter stimuli, or diverse, allowing a more discerning evaluation of food sources. We provide a systematic analysis of how bitter taste is encoded by the major taste organ of the Drosophila head, the labellum. Each of 16 bitter compounds is tested physiologically against all 31 taste hairs, revealing responses that are diverse in magnitude and dynamics. Four functional classes of bitter neurons are defined. Four corresponding classes are defined through expression analysis of all 68 gustatory taste receptors. A receptor-to-neuron-to-tastant map is constructed. Misexpression of one receptor confers bitter responses as predicted by the map. These results reveal a degree of complexity that greatly expands the capacity of the system to encode bitter taste.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Choice Behavior
  • Drosophila Proteins / physiology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / anatomy & histology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / physiology*
  • Ligands
  • Male
  • Neurons, Afferent / classification
  • Neurons, Afferent / physiology*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology
  • Sensilla / cytology
  • Sensilla / physiology
  • Taste / physiology*
  • Taste Threshold / physiology

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • gustatory receptor, Drosophila