Brigitte Dauwalder - US grants

The genetic control of mating behavior (courtship) is very important for the survival of a species. However, little is known about the genes that regulate this behavior. The study of mating behavior of fruit flies provides a simple way to identify and study genes that control this process since the fly's courtship ritual consists of well-defined steps that are easy to observe in the laboratory.
The same regulatory pathways, which determine sexual differentiation in the animal as a whole, control sex-specific behavior. In contrast to mammals, where hormones play an important role in this process, the brain of male fruit flies develops in a male specific manner without requiring hormones. When parts of the male brain are made female by genetic manipulation, mating behavior is severely disturbed. Although sexual differentiation of the brain is critical for proper male behavior, another tissue, which is not part of the brain, but surrounds it, is also important for courtship. It is unknown how this tissue contributes to mating behavior. The aim of this project is to study the role of this tissue in the regulation of male courtship. How does it influence the brain? It is known that this tissue secretes a number of proteins into the fly's circulatory system from where they could possibly contact the brain. One of these proteins has already been shown to play a role in courtship behavior. How does it work? Are there other secreted factors that affect courtship? How can diffusible factors influence the brain and behavior? The study of these questions will contribute to our understanding of how genes and molecules regulate complex behaviors. In addition, this exciting work will provide a rich learning experience for undergraduate students in genetic and molecular techniques

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).

How the brain works is an important and complicated question. One of the many functions of the brain is to regulate complex behaviors, such as behaviors that govern the interaction among individuals. It is known that behavior is guided by both genes and the environment, and that these two influences interact closely. In addition, brain function is also regulated by hormones in ways that are not well understood. This project studies such hormone-like factors and their influence on the mating behavior of fruit flies, a model organism that has very powerful genetic and molecular tools available to experimentally test mechanisms underlying function. This allows easier examination and manipulation of these factors. Mutant flies will be made that lack them, and they will be observed to study how that changes the mating behavior of the fly. It is possible to draw general conclusions from these studies, because hormonal factors work similarly in many organisms. In addition, the project examines another important question: How these factors can get through the blood brain barrier, a cell layer that protects the brain in most higher organisms, including humans. These studies will give insight into the ways hormones affect the brain, and how this influences behavior. Ultimately, they will help to better understand how the brain works. These studies will be performed at one of the most diverse Universities in the United States that educates many students from underrepresented groups. Both undergraduate and graduate students will participate in the research and be trained in how to perform scientific studies.