microRNA-encoded behaviour in Drosophila+ #MMPMID26494171
Picao-Osorio J; Johnston J; Landgraf M; Berni J; Alonso CR
Science 2015[Nov]; 350 (6262): 815-20 PMID26494171show ga
The relationship between microRNA regulation and the specification of behaviour is only beginning to be explored. Here we find that mutation of a single microRNA locus (miR-iab4/8) in Drosophila larvae affects the animal?s capacity to correct its orientation if turned upside-down (self-righting). One of the microRNA targets involved in this behaviour is the Hox gene Ultrabithorax whose derepression in two metameric neurons leads to self-righting defects. In vivo neural activity analysis reveals that these neurons, the self-righting node (SRN), have different activity patterns in wild type and miRNA mutants whilst thermogenetic manipulation of SRN activity results in changes in self-righting behaviour. Our work thus reveals a microRNA-encoded behaviour and suggests that other microRNAs might also be involved in behavioural control in Drosophila and other species.