# Identification and characterization of second-order taste neurons in Drosophila

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · 2021 · $66,390

## Abstract

A major question in neuroscience is how animals translate sensory input into motor output. A
particularly good system to address this question is the Drosophila gustatory (taste) system,
since both the primary sugar-sensing neurons as well as the motor neurons that elicit feeding
are well characterized. When a hungry fly encounters appetizing food, it extends its proboscis
and begins feeding. As both the primary sensory inputs and motor outputs are located in close
proximity to each other in the subesophageal zone (SEZ) of the Drosophila brain, local circuits
in the SEZ likely govern feeding decisions. This proposal intends to identify second-order taste
neurons that may bridge sensory inputs and motor outputs. Activation of 7 different candidate
second-order taste neurons, similar to activation of the primary sugar sensing neurons, is
sufficient to generate feeding behavior. Thus, candidate neurons identified thus far may be
involved in the pathway from sensory input to motor output. To analyze the role that second-
order taste neurons play in feeding, Aim 1 will determine the anatomical connectivity between
first-order taste neurons and candidate second-order neurons, Aim 2 will determine the stimuli
that second-order neurons respond to, and Aim 3 will determine the behaviors that second-
order neurons mediate. By identifying and characterizing second-order taste neurons, this
proposal will build the foundation for understanding how basic sensory information is integrated
with internal cues, such as hunger, into behaviors like feeding. An understanding of feeding
decisions in insects may provide insights into how to prevent the spread of diseases such as
malaria that depend on an insect vector. Furthermore, because flies respond to similar cues as
mammals, such as appetizing sugar substances and bitter toxins, understanding the circuits that
underlie feeding may shed light into human feeding related disorders such as obesity and
diabetes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10244885
- **Project number:** 5F32DC018225-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- **Principal Investigator:** Philip K Shiu
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $66,390
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-15 → 2022-09-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10244885

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10244885, Identification and characterization of second-order taste neurons in Drosophila (5F32DC018225-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10244885. Licensed CC0.

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