The Olfactory Logic behind Fruit Odor Preferences in Larval and Adult Drosophila

Publication date: 22 May 2018
Source:Cell Reports, Volume 23, Issue 8
Author(s): Hany K.M. Dweck, Shimaa A.M. Ebrahim, Tom Retzke, Veit Grabe, Jerrit Weißflog, Ales Svatoš, Bill S. Hansson, Markus Knaden
Despite the comprehensive knowledge on odor coding, our understanding of the relationship between sensory input and behavioral output in Drosophila remains weak. Here, we measure the behavioral responses generated by larval and adult flies in response to 34 fruit odors and find that larval preference for fruit odors differs from that of adult flies. Next, we provide a functional analysis of the full repertoire of the peripheral olfactory system using the same comprehensive stimulus spectrum. We find that 90% and 53% of larval and adult olfactory receptors tested here, respectively, are involved in evaluating these fruit odors. Finally, we find that the total amount of olfactory neuronal activity correlates strongly positively with behavioral output in larvae and correlates weakly negatively in adult flies. Our results suggest that larval and adult flies have evolved different mechanisms for detection and computation of fruit odors, mechanisms likely mirroring the different lifestyles of both developmental stages.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Dweck et al. investigate the attraction of larval and adult flies to 34 different fruit odors. They show that both developmental stages differ in their preferences. The authors furthermore identify those olfactory receptors that are responsible for the detection and evaluation of the 116 chemical compounds in the fruit odors.


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