Ionotropic Receptors Mediate Drosophila Oviposition Preference through Sour Gustatory Receptor Neurons.

ABSTRACT: Carboxylic acids are present in many foods, being especially abundant in fruits. Yet, relatively little is known about how acids are detected by gustatory systems and whether they have a potential role in nutrition or provide other health benefits. Here we identify sour gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) in tarsal taste sensilla of Drosophila melanogaster. We find that most tarsal sensilla harbor a sour GRN that is specifically activated by carboxylic and mineral acids but does not respond to sweet- and bitter-tasting chemicals or salt. One pair of taste sensilla features two GRNs that respond only to a subset of carboxylic acids and high concentrations of salt. All sour GRNs prominently express two Ionotropic Receptor (IR) genes, IR76b and IR25a, and we show that both these genes are neces

SUBMITTER: Chen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5680077 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature