A rapid and bidirectional reporter of neural activity reveals neural correlates of social behaviors in Drosophila

Moise Bonheur, Kurtis J. Swartz, Melissa G. Metcalf, Xinke Wen, Anna Zhukovskaya, Avirut Mehta, Kristin E. Connors, Julia G. Barasch, Andrew R. Jamieson, Kelsey C. Martin, Richard Axel, Daisuke Hattori

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neural activity is modulated over different timescales encompassing subseconds to hours, reflecting changes in external environment, internal state and behavior. Using Drosophila as a model, we developed a rapid and bidirectional reporter that provides a cellular readout of recent neural activity. This reporter uses nuclear versus cytoplasmic distribution of CREB-regulated transcriptional co-activator (CRTC). Subcellular distribution of GFP-tagged CRTC (CRTC::GFP) bidirectionally changes on the order of minutes and reflects both increases and decreases in neural activity. We established an automated machine-learning-based routine for efficient quantification of reporter signal. Using this reporter, we demonstrate mating-evoked activation and inactivation of modulatory neurons. We further investigated the functional role of the master courtship regulator gene fruitless (fru) and show that fru is necessary to ensure activation of male arousal neurons by female cues. Together, our results establish CRTC::GFP as a bidirectional reporter of recent neural activity suitable for examining neural correlates in behavioral contexts.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1295-1307
Number of pages13
JournalNature neuroscience
Volume26
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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