Students who are eager to delve into cutting-edge neuroscience research are encouraged to reach out to inquire about at ylee@kookmin.ac.kr
Step into the Gateway of Discovery – Welcome to the Intelligence Genetics Lab at Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea
Here, we found that a TRPγ mutant exhibited in Drosophila melanogaster is required for maintaining normal lipid and protein levels. In animals, lipogenesis and lipolysis control lipid levels in response to food availability. Lipids are mostly stored as triacylglycerol in the fat bodies (FBs) of D. melanogaster. Interestingly, trpγ deficient mutants exhibited elevated TAG levels and our genetic data indicated that Dh44 neurons are indispensable for normal lipid storage but not protein storage. Read more...
This study investigates whether the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is capable of detecting cholesterol through their gustatory system. We found that flies are indifferent to low levels of cholesterol and avoid higher levels. The avoidance is mediated by gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs), demonstrating that flies can taste cholesterol. The cholesterol responsive GRNs comprise a subset that also respond to bitter substances. Read more...
Here, we disclose the existence of pharyngeal sensors in Drosophila melanogaster that detect ingested carboxylic acids and are also involved in the appetitive responses to carboxylic acids. These pharyngeal sensors rely on IR51b, IR94a, and IR94h, together with IR25a and IR76b, to drive responses to carboxylic acids. We then demonstrate that optogenetic activation of either Ir94a+ or Ir94h+ GRNs promotes an appetitive feeding response, confirming their contributions to appetitive feeding behavior. Read more...
Our research investigates how pharyngeal gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) in fruit flies detect and respond to high salt levels. We identified that the ionotropic receptor Ir60b is crucial for this process. Ir60b, along with coreceptors IR25a and IR76b, is essential in preventing excessive salt consumption. Read more...
Our study highlights cantharidin's hazardous impact on survival and visceral integrity, shedding light on its toxic properties. Our study highlights cantharidin's hazardous impact on survival and visceral integrity, shedding light on its toxic properties. Read More ...
Our Study proves that vitamin C doubles starvation resistance and induces egg-laying in Drosophila melanogaster. Our behavioral analyses of genetically engineered and anatomically ablated flies show that fruit flies sense vitamin C via sweet‐sensing gustatory receptor neurons in the labellum. Read More ...
Here, we demonstrated that eight amino acids, including arginine, glycine, alanine, serine, phenylalanine, threonine, cysteine, and proline, differentially stimulate feeding behavior by activating sweet-sensing gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) in L-type and S-type sensilla. In turn, this process is mediated by three GRs (GR5a, GR61a, and GR64f), as well as two broadly required ionotropic receptors (IRs), IR25a and IR76b. However, GR5a, GR61a, and GR64f are only required for sensing amino acids in the sweet-sensing GRNs of L-type sensilla. Read More ...