The steroid-hormone ecdysone coordinates parallel pupariation neuromotor and morphogenetic subprograms via epidermis-to-neuron Dilp8-Lgr3 signal induction

Fabiana Heredia, Yanel Volonté, Joana Pereirinha, Magdalena Fernandez-Acosta, Andreia P. Casimiro, Cláudia G. Belém, Filipe Viegas, Kohtaro Tanaka, Juliane Menezes, Maite Arana, Gisele A. Cardoso, André Macedo, Malwina Kotowicz, Facundo H. Prado Spalm, Marcos J. Dibo, Raquel D. Monfardini, Tatiana T. Torres, César S. Mendes, Andres Garelli, Alisson M. Gontijo

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11 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Innate behaviors consist of a succession of genetically-hardwired motor and physiological subprograms that can be coupled to drastic morphogenetic changes. How these integrative responses are orchestrated is not completely understood. Here, we provide insight into these mechanisms by studying pupariation, a multi-step innate behavior of Drosophila larvae that is critical for survival during metamorphosis. We find that the steroid-hormone ecdysone triggers parallel pupariation neuromotor and morphogenetic subprograms, which include the induction of the relaxin-peptide hormone, Dilp8, in the epidermis. Dilp8 acts on six Lgr3-positive thoracic interneurons to couple both subprograms in time and to instruct neuromotor subprogram switching during behavior. Our work reveals that interorgan feedback gates progression between subunits of an innate behavior and points to an ancestral neuromodulatory function of relaxin signaling.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3328
JournalNature Communications
Volume12
Issue number1
Early online date7 Jun 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021

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