Alcohol potentiates a pheromone signal in flies

Annie Park, Tracy Tran, Elizabeth A. Scheuermann, Dean P. Smith, Nigel S. Atkinson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

For decades, numerous researchers have documented the presence of the fruit fly or Drosophila melanogaster on alcohol-containing food sources. Although fruit flies are a common laboratory model organism of choice, there is relatively little understood about the ethological relationship between flies and ethanol. In this study, we find that when male flies inhabit ethanol-containing food substrates they become more aggressive. We identify a possible mechanism for this behavior. The odor of ethanol potentiates the activity of sensory neurons in response to an aggression-promoting pheromone. Finally, we observed that the odor of ethanol also promotes attraction to a food-related citrus odor. Understanding how flies interact with the complex natural environment they inhabit can provide valuable insight into how different natural stimuli are integrated to promote fundamental behaviors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere59853
Pages (from-to)1-8
Number of pages8
JournaleLife
Volume9
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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