EGFR and FGFR pathways have distinct roles in Drosophila mushroom body development and ethanol-induced behavior

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 1; p. e87714
• Main Authors: King, Ian F G, Eddison, Mark, Kaun, Karla R, Heberlein, Ulrike
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 31-01-2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Alcohol; Animal behavior; Animals; Behavior; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Biology; Brain research; Cell adhesion & migration; Central Nervous System Depressants - pharmacology; Developmental biology; Dopamine; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Epidermal growth factor; Epidermal growth factor receptors; Epidermal growth factors; ErbB Receptors - genetics; ErbB Receptors - metabolism; Ethanol; Ethanol - pharmacology; Fibroblast growth factor receptors; Fibroblast growth factors; Gene expression; Genetics; Genomes; Genotype & phenotype; Insects; JNK protein; Kinases; Locomotion; Locomotion - drug effects; Locomotion - genetics; Mammals; MAP kinase; Medicine; Mice; Mushroom bodies; Mushroom Bodies - cytology; Mushroom Bodies - enzymology; Mutation; Nervous system; Neurons; Protein-tyrosine kinase receptors; Receptors, Invertebrate Peptide - genetics; Receptors, Invertebrate Peptide - metabolism; Signal transduction; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Signal Transduction - genetics; Signaling; Tyrosine; San Francisco California; California; United States > US; Virginia
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087714

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling has a conserved role in ethanol-induced behavior in flies and mice, affecting ethanol-induced sedation in both species. However it is not known what other effects EGFR signaling may have on ethanol-induced behavior, or what roles other Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) pathways may play in ethanol induced behaviors. We examined the effects of both the EGFR and Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) RTK signaling pathways on ethanol-induced enhancement of locomotion, a behavior distinct from sedation that may be associated with the rewarding effects of ethanol. We find that both EGFR and FGFR genes influence ethanol-induced locomotion, though their effects are opposite - EGFR signaling suppresses this behavior, while FGFR signaling promotes it. EGFR signaling affects development of the Drosophila mushroom bodies in conjunction with the JNK MAP kinase basket (bsk), and with the Ste20 kinase tao, and we hypothesize that the EGFR pathway affects ethanol-induced locomotion through its effects on neuronal development. We find, however, that FGFR signaling most likely affects ethanol-induced behavior through a different mechanism, possibly through acute action in adult neurons.