Biology subjects

Churcher, A. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Churcher, A. M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Conserved molecular signatures of hygrosensory neurons in two dipteran species

Small poikilothermic animals like insects rely on environmental sensing for survival. The ability to detect humidity and temperature through specialized sensory neurons is particularly critical, allowing them to maintain water balance across diverse environments. While recent studies have identified key receptors associated with humidity sensing, our understanding of the broader molecular architecture underlying these sensory systems remains incomplete. Here, we conducted a comparative analysis of humidity receptor neurons (HRN) between the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster and the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. We identified 21 genes that define the molecular identity of HRNs. These genes encode proteins involved in transcriptional regulation, cellular signaling, enzymatic pathways and cellular organization. Through behavioral analysis, we demonstrate essential roles for three of these genes, the serotonin receptor 5-HT7, the transcription factor nubbin and the kinesin motor protein Kif19A are all required for humidity-guided behavior. The conservation of this molecular toolkit between species separated by over 200 million years of evolution suggests shared functional requirements for environmental sensing in insects. Our findings provide insights into fundamental principles of sensory neuron organization and oeer a framework for understanding how specialized sensory systems evolve and maintain their function.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2023

Genetic atlas of hygro- and thermosensory cells in the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster

The ability of animals to perceive and respond to sensory information is essential for their survival in diverse environments. While much progress has been made in understanding various sensory modalities, the sense of hygrosensation, which involves the detection and response to humidity, remains poorly understood. In this study, we focused on the hygrosensory, and closely related thermosensory, systems in the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster to unravel the molecular profile of the cells of these senses. Using a transcriptomic analysis of over 37,000 nuclei, we identified twelve distinct clusters of cells corresponding to temperature-sensing arista neurons, humidity-sensing sacculus neurons, and support cells relating to these neurons. By examining the expression of known and novel marker genes, we validated the identity of these clusters and characterized their gene expression profiles. We found that each cell type could be characterized by a unique expression profile of ion channels, GPCR signaling molecules, synaptic vesicle cycle proteins, and cell adhesion molecules. Our findings provide valuable insights into the molecular basis of hygro- and thermosensation. Understanding the mechanisms underlying hygro- and thermosensation may shed light on the broader understanding of sensory systems and their adaptation to different environmental conditions in animals.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

The regulation of methylation on the Z chromosome and the identification of multiple novel Male Hyper-Methylated regions in the chicken

DNA methylation is a key regulator of eukaryote genomes, and is of particular relevance in the regulation of gene expression on the sex chromosomes, with a key role in dosage compensation in mammalian XY systems. In the case of birds, dosage compensation is largely absent, with it being restricted to two small Male Hyper-Methylated (MHM) regions on the Z chromosome. To investigate how variation in DNA methylation is regulated on the Z chromosome we utilised a wild x domestic advanced intercross in the chicken, with both hypothalamic methylomes and transcriptomes assayed in 124 individuals. The relatively large numbers of individuals allowed us to identify additional genomic MHM regions on the Z chromosome that were significantly differentially methylated between the sexes. These regions appear to down-regulate local gene expression in males, but not remove it entirely (unlike the lncRNAs identified in the initial MHM regions). In addition, trans effect hotspots were also identified that were based on the autosomes but affected the Z, and also that were based on the Z chromosome but that affected autosomal DNA methylation regulation. In addition, quantitative trait loci (QTL) that regulate variation in methylation on the Z chromosome, and those loci that regulate methylation on the autosomes that derive from the Z chromosome were mapped. Trans-effect hotspots were also identified that were based on the autosomes but affected the Z, and also one that was based on the Z chromosome but that affected both autosomal and sex chromosome DNA methylation regulation. Our results highlight how additional MHM regions are actually present on the Z chromosome, and they appear to have smaller-scale effects on gene expression in males. Quantitative variation in methylation is also regulated both from the autosomes to the Z chromosome, and from the Z chromosome to the autosomes.

evolutionary biology↗