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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.03.02.482605

A gut-derived hormone switches dietary preference after mating in Drosophila

Malita, A.·Kubrak, O.·Koyama, T.·Ahrentloev, N.·Halberg, K. V.·Texada, M. J.·Nagy, S.·Rewitz, K.
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Abstract

Animals must adapt their dietary choices to meet their nutritional needs. How these needs are detected and translated into nutrient-specific appetites that drive food-choice behaviors is poorly defined. Here, we show that the enteroendocrine cells (EECs) of the adult female Drosophila midgut sense nutrients and in response release neuropeptide F (NPF), an ortholog of mammalian NPY-family gut-brain hormones. Gut-derived NPF acts via effects on glucagon-like adipokinetic hormone (AKH) signaling to induce sugar satiety and to drive hunger for protein-rich food, and on adipose tissue to promote storage of ingested nutrients. Suppression of gut NPF leads to overconsumption of dietary sugar while decreasing intake of protein-rich yeast. Furthermore, we show a female-specific function of gut-derived NPF in the suppression of AKH signaling after mating. This induces a dietary switch that promotes preference for protein-containing food to support reproduction. Together, our findings suggest that the gut NPF-AKH axis regulates appetite that drives specific food choices to ensure homeostatic consumption of nutrients, providing insight into the hormonal mechanisms that underlie nutrient-specific hungers.

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Malita, A., Kubrak, O., Koyama, T., Ahrentloev, N., Halberg, K. V., Texada, M. J., Nagy, S., Rewitz, K.. 2022-03-04. A gut-derived hormone switches dietary preference after mating in Drosophila. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.03.02.482605

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