Item Details

title

NEUROPEPTIDE MODULATION OF PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

author

Nelson, Jonathan Michael

abstract

Information between networked neurons is commonly conveyed through neurotransmitters that pass from one neuron to another. Many neurotransmitters serve dual functions, acting as the principal driver of neuronal excitation, or neuromodulators which influence the susceptibility of excitation. To date, there has been relatively little focus on the effects of neuropeptide neuromodulators and little is known about how they modulate behavior.The peptide hormone, Adipokinetic Hormone (AKH) is an essential messenger of metabolic state and a regulator of energy reserves in arthropods. Invertebrate AKH function is the functional equivalent of mammalian glucagon. The release of AKH must only occur under circumstances of nutrient demand. Currently, the regulation of AKH release is incompletely understood. The overall goals of this research were to 1) investigate the influence of neuropeptide modulation on olfactory driven behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster, and 2) examine the mechanisms behind the release of AKH in Drosophila melanogaster. In the first study, I explored the neuromodulation of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) by corazonin (Crz). Using confocal microscopy, I indicated the expression of the corazonin receptor (CrzR) within a subset of olfactory receptor neurons that express the receptor Or88a. I also demonstrated that CrzR is essential for modulating the strength of aversion to several odorants. This investigation showed that neuromodulation occurs within the antennae and alters behavioral response by means of Crz signaling. In the second and third studies, I uncovered the identity of ion channels and multiple dopamine receptors present within AKH producing cells (APCs) that contribute to AKH associated behavior and the regulation and release of AKH. Taken together, this work provides insights into the specific channels and receptors that govern signaling within Or88a expressing ORNs and APCs.

subject

Adipokinetic Hormone

Corazonin

Neuropeptide

Olfaction

Olfactory Receptor Neurons

contributor

Johnson, Erik C (advisor)

Chen, Rong (committee member)

McDonald Esstman, Sarah M (committee member)

Marrs, Glen S (committee member)

Silver, Wayne L (committee member)

date

2023-07-25T17:48:34Z (accessioned)

2025-06-06T08:30:06Z (available)

2023 (issued)

degree

Biology (discipline)

embargo

2025-06-06 (terms)

identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/102236 (uri)

language

en (iso)

publisher

Wake Forest University

type

Dissertation