SIFamide Translates Hunger Signals into Appetitive and Feeding Behavior in Drosophila
Carlotta Martelli,
Ulrike Pech,
Simon Kobbenbring,
Dennis Pauls,
Britta Bahl,
Mirjam Vanessa Sommer,
Atefeh Pooryasin,
Jonas Barth,
Carmina Warth Perez Arias,
Chrystalleni Vassiliou,
Abud Jose Farca Luna,
Haiko Poppinga,
Florian Gerhard Richter,
Christian Wegener,
André Fiala,
Thomas Riemensperger
Affiliations
Carlotta Martelli
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Ulrike Pech
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Simon Kobbenbring
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Dennis Pauls
Neurobiology and Genetics, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
Britta Bahl
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Mirjam Vanessa Sommer
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Atefeh Pooryasin
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Jonas Barth
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Carmina Warth Perez Arias
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Chrystalleni Vassiliou
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Abud Jose Farca Luna
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Haiko Poppinga
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Florian Gerhard Richter
Neurobiology and Genetics, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
Christian Wegener
Neurobiology and Genetics, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
André Fiala
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Thomas Riemensperger
Molecular Neurobiology of Behavior, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Animal behavior is, on the one hand, controlled by neuronal circuits that integrate external sensory stimuli and induce appropriate motor responses. On the other hand, stimulus-evoked or internally generated behavior can be influenced by motivational conditions, e.g., the metabolic state. Motivational states are determined by physiological parameters whose homeostatic imbalances are signaled to and processed within the brain, often mediated by modulatory peptides. Here, we investigate the regulation of appetitive and feeding behavior in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We report that four neurons in the fly brain that release SIFamide are integral elements of a complex neuropeptide network that regulates feeding. We show that SIFamidergic cells integrate feeding stimulating (orexigenic) and feeding suppressant (anorexigenic) signals to appropriately sensitize sensory circuits, promote appetitive behavior, and enhance food intake. Our study advances the cellular dissection of evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways that convert peripheral metabolic signals into feeding-related behavior.