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Peer-reviewedCC BYCurrent Biology

Networks of sexually dimorphic neurons that regulate social behaviors in Drosophila

  • Gerald M. Rubin1
  • Claire Managan2
  • Marisa Dreher2
  • Elizabeth Kim2
  • Scott W. Miller2
  • Kaitlyn Nicole Boone2
  • Alice A. Robie2
  • Adam L. Taylor2
  • Kristin M. Branson2
  • Catherine E. Schretter2
  • Adriane G. Otopalik3
  1. 1Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; FlyEM Project Team, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA. Electronic address: [email protected]
  2. 2Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
  3. 3Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA. Electronic address: [email protected]
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Abstract

Neural mechanisms underlying sexually dimorphic social behaviors remain enigmatic in most species. In Drosophila, sexually dimorphic pC1/pC1x neurons have been described as a site of sensory integration that regulates mating and aggressive behaviors. We show that the male pC1/pC1x population resides in an expansive and highly intertwined male-specific network that is poised to regulate social behavior. The 48 pC1/pC1x connectomically defined cell types exhibit heterogeneous synaptic connections, and a subset receive strong input from identified sensory pathways. Genetic driver lines for these cell types were generated and used to discover distinct roles for pC1/pC1x cell types in modulating social acoustic signaling and male-male interactions. We also describe circuit motifs by which pC1 and sexually dimorphic aIPg neurons co-regulate social behaviors. Our results reveal unexpected diversity in the connectivity and behavioral roles of pC1/pC1x cell types and provide essential genetic tools for interrogating their neurophysiological and behavioral functions.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{rubin2026networks,
  title = {{Networks of sexually dimorphic neurons that regulate social behaviors in Drosophila}},
  author = {Gerald M. Rubin and Claire Managan and Marisa Dreher and Elizabeth Kim and Scott W. Miller and Kaitlyn Nicole Boone and Alice A. Robie and Adam L. Taylor and Kristin M. Branson and Catherine E. Schretter and Adriane G. Otopalik},
  journal = {Current Biology},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2026.08.013},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.08.013},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Networks of sexually dimorphic neurons that regulate social behaviors in Drosophila
AU  - Gerald M. Rubin
AU  - Claire Managan
AU  - Marisa Dreher
AU  - Elizabeth Kim
AU  - Scott W. Miller
AU  - Kaitlyn Nicole Boone
AU  - Alice A. Robie
AU  - Adam L. Taylor
AU  - Kristin M. Branson
AU  - Catherine E. Schretter
AU  - Adriane G. Otopalik
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/01
JO  - Current Biology
DO  - 10.1016/j.cub.2026.08.013
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.08.013
AB  - Neural mechanisms underlying sexually dimorphic social behaviors remain enigmatic in most species. In Drosophila, sexually dimorphic pC1/pC1x neurons have been described as a site of sensory integration that regulates mating and aggressive behaviors. We show that the male pC1/pC1x population resides in an expansive and highly intertwined male-specific network that is poised to regulate social behavior. The 48 pC1/pC1x connectomically defined cell types exhibit heterogeneous synaptic connections, and a subset receive strong input from identified sensory pathways. Genetic driver lines for these cell types were generated and used to discover distinct roles for pC1/pC1x cell types in modulating social acoustic signaling and male-male interactions. We also describe circuit motifs by which pC1 and sexually dimorphic aIPg neurons co-regulate social behaviors. Our results reveal unexpected diversity in the connectivity and behavioral roles of pC1/pC1x cell types and provide essential genetic tools for interrogating their neurophysiological and behavioral functions.
SN  - 0960-9822
SN  - 1879-0445
ER  -