Overexpression of a repressor isoform of CrebB-17A lengthens courtship break in the fruit fly drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Abstract

The courtship of Drosophila melanogaster males involves a sequence of characteristic behavioral elements. Identification of the genes required for active male courtship will help our understanding of the molecular mechanisms for maintaining male courtship activity. In this study, we examined the effect of conditional suppression of the activity of Drosophila transcription factor CrebB-17A on each courtship element by analyzing courtship using an event recorder. The mean frequencies of orientation, following, and wing vibration decreased in males overexpressing the CrebB-17A repressor. The mean durations of the courtship bout and each courtship element were normal in these flies and that of courtship break was markedly lengthened. These findings show that ongoing CrebB-17A activity is required for maintaining courtship break at the wild-type level, suggesting that CrebB-17A-mediated gene expression is involved in the reinitiation of male courtship after courtship break in Drosophila.