RT Journal Article
T1 Neuroendocrine Control of Drosophila Larval Light Preference
A1 Yamanaka, Naoki
A1 Romero, Nuria M.
A1 Martín Castro, Francisco Antonio
A1 Rewitz, Kim F.
A1 Sun, Mu
A1 O’Connor, Michael B.
A1 Léopold, Pierre
AB Animal development is coupled with innate behaviors that maximize chances of survival. Here, we show that the prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), a neuropeptide that controls the developmental transition from juvenile stage to sexual maturation, also regulates light avoidance in Drosophila melanogaster larvae. PTTH, through its receptor Torso, acts on two light sensors—the Bolwig’s organ and the peripheral class IV dendritic arborization neurons—to regulate light avoidance. We found that PTTH concomitantly promotes steroidogenesis and light avoidance at the end of larval stage, driving animals toward a darker environment to initiate the immobile maturation phase. Thus, PTTH controls the decisions of when and where animals undergo metamorphosis, optimizing conditions for adult development.
PB American Association for the Advancement of Science
SN 0036-8075
YR 2013
FD 2013-09-06
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/128331
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/128331
LA eng
NO Yamanaka N, Romero NM, Martin FA, Rewitz KF, Sun M, O'Connor MB, Léopold P. Neuroendocrine control of Drosophila larval light preference. Science. 2013 Sep 6;341(6150):1113-6. doi: 10.1126/science.1241210. PMID: 24009394; PMCID: PMC3906047.
NO This work was supported by the CNRS, INSERM, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale, European Research Council (grant 268813) to N.M.R., F.A.M., and P.L.; NIH grant K99 HD073239 to N.Y.; Danish Council for Independent Research, Natural Sciences grant 11-105446 to K.F.R.; and NIH grant R01 GM093301 to M.B.O. Materials are available from CNRS under a material transfer agreement.
NO Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France)
NO Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (France)
NO Agence nationale de la recherche (France)
NO Fondation pour la recherche médicale
NO European Research Council
NO Danish Council for Independent Research, Natural Sciences
NO National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 1 ene 2026