Structure/Function analyses of the neural circuitry controlling male courtship behaviour in Drosophila. (360G-Wellcome-082987_Z_07_Z)

Reproduction and courtship are essential components of the behavioural repertoire of Drosophila melanogaster. A number of genes are involved in building the potential for these behaviours into the central nervous system (CNS), most notably the sex determination genes fruitless (fru) and doublesex (dsx). Yet how do fru and dsx generate a sexually dimorphic nervous system, and what can we learn from these genes to understand how complex behaviour may be encoded? We have developed a unique set of m olecular genetic tools to dissect the function of Fruitless-expressing neurons in the CNS. Using these same strategies we are generating complimentary reagents to extend our structure/function analyses to the dsx gene. We are exploiting these reagents to study how the neural circuitry underlying sexual behaviour is built into the nervous system during development, and how this circuitry functions in the adult. We have two specific aims; firstly, we will continue to dissect the relative roles of Fru isoforms in male neuronal differentiation and sexual behaviour by the generation and characterization of fru isoform-specific mutants; secondly, we are investigating Fru- and Dsx expressing neurons associated with motor output, notably those controlling male copulatory behaviour and courtship song production.