Yamanaka, NaokiRomero, Nuria M.Martín Castro, Francisco AntonioRewitz, Kim F.Sun, MuO’Connor, Michael B.Léopold, Pierre2025-12-022025-12-022013-09-06Yamanaka 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: PMC3906047.0036-807510.1126/science.1241210https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/128331This 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.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.engjournal article1095-9203https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1241210https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1241210restricted access595.77591.3591.185.6591.44591.48ZoologíaInsectosFisiología animal (Biología)2401 Biología Animal (Zoología)2413 Biología de Insectos (Entomología)2413.02 desarrollo de Los Insectos2413.05 Fisiología de Los Insectos2413.90 Endocrinología de Insectos