Biological functions of α2‐adrenergic‐like octopamine receptor in Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: Genes, brain and behavior Vol. 21; no. 6; pp. e12807 - n/a
• Main Authors: Nakagawa, Hiroyuki, Maehara, Shiori, Kume, Kazuhiko, Ohta, Hiroto, Tomita, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2022; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Adrenergic Agents - pharmacology; Animals; Central nervous system; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Grooming; grooming behavior; Hyperactivity; Locomotor activity; Mutants; Octopamine; Octopamine - pharmacology; octopamine receptor; Octopamine receptors; Original; Receptors, Biogenic Amine; starvation‐induced hyperactivity; locomotor activity; octopamine receptor; Drosophila melanogaster; grooming behavior; starvation-induced hyperactivity
• ISSN: 1601-1848; 1601-183X
• DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12807

Octopamine regulates various physiological phenomena including memory, sleep, grooming and aggression in insects. In Drosophila, four types of octopamine receptors have been identified: Oamb, Oct/TyrR, OctβR and Octα2R. Among these receptors, Octα2R was recently discovered and pharmacologically characterized. However, the effects of the receptor on biological functions are still unknown. Here, we showed that Octα2R regulated several behaviors related to octopamine signaling. Octα2R hypomorphic mutant flies showed a significant decrease in locomotor activity. We found that Octα2R expressed in the pars intercerebralis, which is a brain region projected by octopaminergic neurons, is involved in control of the locomotor activity. Besides, Octα2R hypomorphic mutants increased time and frequency of grooming and inhibited starvation‐induced hyperactivity. These results indicated that Octα2R expressed in the central nervous system is responsible for the involvement in physiological functions. Octα2R signaling regulated activation of locomotor activity, inhibition of grooming and starvation‐induced hyperactivity.