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Single-cell transcriptome profiles of Drosophila fruitless-expressing neurons from both sexes

Summary

Scientists studied individual nerve cells in fruit flies that control mating behaviors, comparing males and females at a critical developmental stage. Using advanced sequencing technology, they identified 113 distinct types of nerve cells with shared genes but sex-specific differences in expression. The findings reveal how the same basic neural circuits can be fine-tuned differently in males and females to produce their distinct reproductive behaviors.

Background

Drosophila reproductive behaviors are orchestrated by fruitless (fru) neurons that express sex-specific transcription factors. While previous studies identified fru neurons in both sexes arising from shared developmental lineages, little is known about their molecular heterogeneity and sex-specific gene expression patterns during critical developmental stages when sexual dimorphism is established.

Objective

To characterize the molecular diversity and sex-differential gene expression of fruitless (fru P1)-expressing neurons during pupal development using single-cell RNA-sequencing. The study aimed to identify distinct neuronal populations and understand how shared developmental origins produce sex-specific behavioral circuits.

Results

Analysis generated 113 molecular clusters from 25,518 neurons, with over half showing sex differences in neuron numbers and nearly all displaying sex-differential gene expression. Four sex-specific clusters were identified, including female-specific CCHa2-expressing neurons and male-specific dsx-expressing neurons. Functional analysis revealed fru P1 circadian neurons have dimorphic roles in activity and period length regulation.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that male and female fru P1 neurons share common gene expression programs with sex-specific expression overlaid on these core patterns. The identification of distinct molecular clusters and their sex-differential characteristics provides insight into how shared neuronal populations can generate vastly different reproductive behaviors between sexes.
  • Published in:eLife,
  • Study Type:Single-cell transcriptomic study,
  • Source: PMID: 36724009, DOI: 10.7554/eLife.78511
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