Octopamine signaling from clock neurons plays dual roles in Drosophila long-term memory

Octopamine signaling from clock neurons plays dual roles in Drosophila long-term memory | bioRxiv /* */ /* */ <!-- <!-- /*! * yepnope1.5.4 * (c) WTFPL, GPLv2 */ (function(a,b,c){function d(a){return"[object Function]"==o.call(a)}function e(a){return"string"==typeof a}function f(){}function g(a){return!a||"loaded"==a||"complete"==a||"uninitialized"==a}function h(){var a=p.shift();q=1,a?a.t?m(function(){("c"==a.t?B.injectCss:B.injectJs)(a.s,0,a.a,a.x,a.e,1)},0):(a(),h()):q=0}function i(a,c,d,e,f,i,j){function k(b){if(!o&&g(l.readyState)&&(u.r=o=1,!q&&h(),l.onload=l.onreadystatechange=null,b)){"img"!=a&&m(function(){t.removeChild(l)},50);for(var d in y[c])y[c].hasOwnProperty(d)&&y[c][d].onload()}}var j=j||B.errorTimeout,l=b.createElement(a),o=0,r=0,u={t:d,s:c,e:f,a:i,x:j};1===y[c]&&(r=1,y[c]=[]),"object"==a?l.data=c:(l.src=c,l.type=a),l.width=l.height="0",l.onerror=l.onload=l.onreadystatechange=function(){k.call(this,r)},p.splice(e,0,u),"img"!=a&&(r||2===y[c]?(t.insertBefore(l,s?null:n),m(k,j)):y[c].push(l))}function j(a,b,c,d,f){return q=0,b=b||"j",e(a)?i("c"==b?v:u,a,b,this.i++,c,d,f):(p.splice(this.i++,0,a),1==p.length&&h()),this}function k(){var a=B;return a.loader={load:j,i:0},a}var l=b.documentElement,m=a.setTimeout,n=b.getElementsByTagName("script")[0],o={}.toString,p=[],q=0,r="MozAppearance"in l.style,s=r&&!!b.createRange().compareNode,t=s?l:n.parentNode,l=a.opera&&"[object Opera]"==o.call(a.opera),l=!!b.attachEvent&&!l,u=r?"object":l?"script":"img",v=l?"script":u,w=Array.isArray||function(a){return"[object Array]"==o.call(a)},x=[],y={},z={timeout:function(a,b){return b.length&&(a.timeout=b[0]),a}},A,B;B=function(a){function b(a){var a=a.split("!"),b=x.length,c=a.pop(),d=a.length,c={url:c,origUrl:c,prefixes:a},e,f,g;for(f=0;f<d;f++)g=a[f].split("="),(e=z[g.shift()])&&(c=e(c,g));for(f=0;f<b;f++)c=x[f](c);return c}function g(a,e,f,g,h){var i=b(a),j=i.autoCallback;i.url.split(".").pop().split("?").shift(),i.bypass||(e&&(e=d(e)?e:e[a]||e[g]||e[a.split("/").pop().split("?")[0]]),i.instead?i.instead(a,e,f,g,h):(y[i.url]?i.noexec=!0:y[i.url]=1,f.load(i.url,i.forceCSS||!i.forceJS&&"css"==i.url.split(".").pop().split("?").shift()?"c":c,i.noexec,i.attrs,i.timeout),(d(e)||d(j))&&f.load(function(){k(),e&&e(i.origUrl,h,g),j&&j(i.origUrl,h,g),y[i.url]=2})))}function h(a,b){function c(a,c){if(a){if(e(a))c||(j=function(){var a=[].slice.call(arguments);k.apply(this,a),l()}),g(a,j,b,0,h);else if(Object(a)===a)for(n in m=function(){var b=0,c;for(c in a)a.hasOwnProperty(c)&&b++;return b}(),a)a.hasOwnProperty(n)&&(!c&&!--m&&(d(j)?j=function(){var a=[].slice.call(arguments);k.apply(this,a),l()}:j[n]=function(a){return function(){var b=[].slice.call(arguments);a&&a.apply(this,b),l()}}(k[n])),g(a[n],j,b,n,h))}else!c&&l()}var h=!!a.test,i=a.load||a.both,j=a.callback||f,k=j,l=a.complete||f,m,n;c(h?a.yep:a.nope,!!i),i&&c(i)}var i,j,l=this.yepnope.loader;if(e(a))g(a,0,l,0);else if(w(a))for(i=0;i (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];var j=d.createElement(s);var dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.src='//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;j.type='text/javascript';j.async=true;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-M677548'); Skip to main content Home About Submit ALERTS / RSS Search for this keyword Advanced Search New Results Octopamine signaling from clock neurons plays dual roles in Drosophila long-term memory Yuto Kurata , View ORCID Profile Taishi Yoshii , View ORCID Profile Takaomi Sakai doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.23.678153 Yuto Kurata 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University , Tokyo 192-0397, Japan Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Taishi Yoshii 2 Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University , Okayama 700-8530, Japan Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Taishi Yoshii Takaomi Sakai 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University , Tokyo 192-0397, Japan Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Takaomi Sakai For correspondence: sakai-takaomi{at}tmu.ac.jp Abstract Full Text Info/History Metrics Supplementary material Preview PDF Abstract Circadian clock genes are best known for regulating circadian rhythms, but they also play crucial roles in memory processes. This suggests that memory is modulated by neural networks containing clock neurons, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In Drosophila melanogaster , approximately 240 clock neurons are grouped into at least eight distinct clusters. Among them, the dorsal–lateral neurons (LNds) are required for maintaining long-term memory (LTM). In contrast, the neuropeptide Pigment-dispersing factor (Pdf), expressed in both small and large ventral–lateral neurons (s-LNvs and l-LNvs, respectively), functions as a circadian output signal and is also essential for maintaining LTM. In addition, Pdf-expressing neurons (hereafter, Pdf neurons) release neurotransmitters other than Pdf, which are involved in LTM consolidation. However, the specific transmitters used by LNds and Pdf neurons in LTM processing have remained unknown. Here, we show that octopamine signaling from LNds is essential for LTM maintenance, whereas octopamine in Pdf neurons is essential for LTM consolidation. Temporally restricted knockdown of Tyramine β hydroxylase ( Tbh ), the gene encoding the enzyme required for octopamine synthesis, disrupted LTM maintenance when targeted in LNds, whereas it impaired LTM consolidation when targeted in Pdf neurons. Notably, Tbh knockdown in LNds or Pdf neurons had minimal effects on circadian behavioral rhythms or sleep. These findings reveal that octopamine released from specific subtypes of clock neurons independently regulates distinct phases of LTM in Drosophila . Author Summary Animal memory formed through learning is stabilized by a process called consolidation and becomes long-term memory (LTM), which can persist for extended periods. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is widely used in memory research, enabling the discovery of key genes and signaling pathways. In addition, Drosophila has contributed significantly to circadian rhythm research through studies of clock neurons and clock genes. Notably, clock neurons have been implicated in LTM regulation, suggesting a potential link between circadian clock neurons and memory function. However, the neural network connecting these processes remains poorly understood. Identifying the neurotransmitters released from clock neurons is critical to clarifying how these neurons affect memory function. In this study, we show that octopamine, the fly equivalent of the vertebrate neurotransmitter norepinephrine, released from two distinct groups of clock neurons regulates different phases of LTM in Drosophila : one group supports consolidation, whereas the other supports maintenance. Our findings demonstrate that clock neurons play an active role in memory regulation, and they provide new insights into the neural circuitry that controls LTM. Introduction Animals acquire memories through learning, and these memories support their survival. Newly acquired memories are initially unstable, but under certain conditions, they can become stabilized in the brain—a process known as consolidation—resulting in long-term memory (LTM). Once consolidated, LTM can persist in the brain for extended periods. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster serves as a powerful model for uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying memory, owing to its rich genetic toolkit and extensive collection of mutant stocks. Courtship conditioning, one of the memory assays in Drosophila, has been used in studies to reveal the molecular and cellular bases of memory [ 1 - 4 ]. In this assay, virgin males are paired with mated females that emit aversive stimuli—such as inhibitory pheromones and physical rejection—leading to reduced male courtship behavior. This courtship suppression is based on past memory (hereafter referred to as “courtship memory”), as shown by the observation that mutant males with memory defects fail to show this response [ 2 , 3 ]. A 1 h conditioning period induces courtship suppression lasting up to 8 h, but not beyond one day [ 5 ]. In contrast, 7 h conditioning induces courtship suppression that persists for at least 5 days [ 6 ]. Thus, 1 h conditioning is commonly used to evaluate short-term memory (STM), whereas 7 h conditioning is used to assess LTM [ 7 ]. In Drosophila , many genes required for consolidating and maintaining courtship LTM have been identified [ 2 , 3 ]. Many of these genes are expressed in the mushroom body (MB), a key brain structure involved in various forms of memory, highlighting its central role in regulating courtship LTM [ 3 ]. Furthermore, several LTM genes are not expressed in the MB but rather in clock neurons, which also express circadian clock genes [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]. This suggests that courtship LTM is orchestrated by a complex neural network that integrates both MB and clock neuron functions, although the precise mechanisms remain unclear. The adult Drosophila brain contains about 240 clock neurons, organized into at least eight clusters, namely, the small and large ventral–lateral neurons (s-LNvs and l-LNvs), the 5th s-LNv, the dorsal–lateral neurons (LNds), lateral–posterior neurons (LPNs), and three types of dorsal neuron (DN1, DN2, and DN3) [ 10 - 13 ]. We previously identified a subset of LNds relevant to regulating courtship LTM [ 9 ]. In Drosophila , the thermogenetic tool shibire ts1 ( shi ts1 ), which encodes a temperature-sensitive mutation in a Dynamin protein [ 14 ], is commonly used to transiently block neurotransmission. At the permissive temperature (PT, 25°C), synaptic transmission proceeds normally. However, shifting to a restrictive temperature (RT, 30°C) inhibits synaptic vesicle recycling, thereby disrupting neurotransmission in the targeted neurons [ 14 ]. When shi ts1 is expressed in a subset of LNds, blocking neurotransmission during the LTM maintenance phase—but not during consolidation or recall—impairs courtship LTM [ 9 ]. These findings suggest that neurotransmitter release from a subset of LNds is critical for maintaining courtship LTM ( Fig 1A ). However, the specific neurotransmitters released from LNds essential for LTM maintenance remain unidentified. Download figure Open in new tab Fig. 1 LNd-specific knockdown in Tdc2 and Tbh induces LTM impairments. (A) Schematic of LNds-mediated LTM maintenance. ( B) Schematic of regulation of LTM processes in a Pdf-dependent or Pdf- independent manner. ( C) 5 d memory after 7 h conditioning. LNd-split-GAL4 and four UAS-RNAi lines (UAS- Dicer2 ; UAS- Tdc2 RNAi, UAS- Tbh RNAi #1, UAS- Tbh RNAi #2, and UAS- ChAT RNAi) were used in the experiments. We visualized the data using a box plot with individual data points (white circles). Box plots for a set of CI data show 5th, 25th, 75th, and 95th centiles. The black square in each box indicates the mean, the line in each box is drawn at the median, white boxes indicate naive males, and gray boxes indicate conditioned males. The asterisks in the figure show the results of comparison with GAL4 control, and the sharp symbols show the results of comparison with UAS control. **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ##, P < 0.01; ###, P < 0.001; NS, not significant; P , probability; U , Mann–Whitney U ; N , sample size in each box. ( D) Confocal section images at LNd level of the adult brain. LNd-split-GAL4/UAS -mCD8::GFP males were used. Arrows, LNds. Scale bars represent 10 μm. Magenta, Tdc2; green, mCD8::GFP. ( E) Confocal section images at the LNd level of the adult brain. Males homozygouse for Tbh-GFP were used. Arrows, LNds. Scale bars represent 10 μm. Magenta, Period; green, Tbh-GFP. In Drosophila , environmental light is essential for the maintenance of courtship LTM, and the Pigment-dispersing factor (Pdf), known for its role in circadian behavioral rhythms [ 15 ] and light-induced arousal [ 16 , 17 ], also contributes to light-dependent LTM maintenance [ 8 ]. Pdf-expressing clock neurons (hereafter, Pdf neurons), which include s-LNvs and l-LNvs, directly detect light through visual systems [ 18 ] and circadian photoreceptors [ 19 , 20 ]. Light exposure triggers Pdf secretion from l-LNvs, supporting LTM maintenance under light conditions [ 21 ]. Blocking neurotransmission in Pdf neurons using Shi ts1 has minimal effects on circadian behavioral rhythms, indicating that Pdf secretion is likely unaffected by Shi ts1 [ 22 ]. Nevertheless, the blocking neurotransmission in Pdf neurons impairs LTM consolidation [ 5 ]. Therefore, it is likely that Pdf neurons secrete a neurotransmitter that is distinct from Pdf and is essential for LTM consolidation [ 3 ]. Taken together, Pdf neurons play vital roles in regulating LTM processes in a Pdf-dependent and Pdf-independent manner ( Fig 1B ). However, the non-Pdf neurotransmitters released from Pdf neurons that are necessary for LTM consolidation remain to be identified ( Fig 1B ). How do LNds and Pdf neurons—both anatomically distant from MB neurons—regulate MB-dependent memory functions? As a first step toward uncovering intercellular communication between clock neurons and MB neurons, it is essential to identify which neurotransmitters are released from clock neurons. RNA-seq analysis of Drosophila clock neurons (GEO accession: GSE77451) reveals the expression of several neurotransmitter-related genes in LNds, including Tyrosine decarboxylase 2 ( Tdc2 ), Tyramine β hydroxylase ( Tbh ), Choline acetyltransferase ( ChAT ), and Vesicular acetylcholine transporter ( VAChT ) [ 23 ]. Tdc2 is an enzyme that produces tyramine (the precursor of octopamine) from tyrosine, and Tbh is an enzyme involved in octopamine production from tyramine [ 24 , 25 ]. Thus, these two enzymes are required for octopamine production [ 26 ], whereas ChAT is an acetylcholine (Ach)-synthesizing enzyme [ 27 ]. Furthermore, Tdc2 and Tbh are detected in Pdf neurons as well as LNds [ 23 ]. In this study, we identified that octopamine in LNds modulates LTM maintenance, whereas octopamine in Pdf neurons modulates LTM consolidation. These findings indicate that octopamine signaling in distinct clock neuron clusters differentially regulates separate phases of memory processing in Drosophila . Results LNd-specific knockdown of Tdc2 and Tbh induces LTM impairment In Drosophila , LNds consist of six clock neurons per hemisphere [ 11 ]. We previously identified two GAL4 lines— R18H11 and R78G02 —in which GAL4 is expressed in subsets of these neurons [ 9 ]. R18H11 drives GAL4 expression in two LNds per hemisphere, whereas R78G02 targets two to three [ 9 ]. However, in both GAL4 lines, GAL4 also labels brain neurons other than LNds. To achieve more specific labeling, we generated an LNd-specific split-GAL4 line (hereafter referred to as LNd-split-GAL4) using a combination of the R18H11-p65.AD and R78G02-GAL4.DBD lines. In LNd-split-GAL4, split GAL4 is expressed in only two LNds per hemisphere [ 9 ]. Using this line and UAS- shi ts1 , we previously confirmed that the disruption of neurotransmission in LNd-split-GAL4-positive neurons during the LTM maintenance phase impairs LTM [ 9 ]. To investigate whether octopamine or acetylcholine (ACh) in LNds contributes to LTM, we knocked down genes involved in their synthesis ( Tdc2 , Tbh , and ChAT ) using LNd-split-GAL4 in combination with multiple UAS-RNAi lines. The efficacy of Tdc2 RNAi and Tbh RNAi was assessed by qRT-PCR analysis using a pan-neuronal driver, nSyb -GAL4. nSyb -GAL4/UAS- Tdc2 RNAi males did not show a reduction in Tdc2 expression levels (S1A Fig). However, the co-expression of UAS-D icer2 achieved ∼90% knockdown relative to GAL4 control flies (S1B Fig). nSyb -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 and nSyb -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #2 flies showed about a 70% reduction in Tbh expression levels compared with GAL4 control flies (S1C, D Fig). Unlike Tbh and Tdc2 knockdown flies, nSyb -GAL4/UAS- ChAT RNAi flies were lethal, precluding qRT-PCR analysis. This lethality is consistent with the finding that ChAT mutant flies are also lethal ( https://flybase.org/reports/FBgn0000303.htm ), suggesting that ChAT knockdown using UAS- ChAT RNAi reduces cholinergic function. In LNd-split-GAL4 and UAS control males, the courtship index (CI), an indicator of male courtship activity, of conditioned males was significantly lower than that of naive males on day 5 after 7 h conditioning ( Fig 1C ). Thus, in these control flies, we detected courtship memory on day 5 after 7 h conditioning (hereafter referred to as ‘5 d memory’). However, in the F 1 hybrid between LNd-split-GAL4 and either UAS- Dicer2 ; UAS- Tdc2 RNAi, UAS- Tbh RNAi #1, or UAS- Tbh RNAi #2, no significant differences in CI were detected between naive and conditioned males ( Fig 1C ). To quantify courtship memory, the memory index (MI) was calculated as described in the Methods section. In these F 1 hybrid males, MI was significantly lower than those in LNd-split-GAL4 and UAS control males, indicating that the LNd-specific knockdown of Tdc2 and Tbh impaired LTM ( Fig 1C ). Tdc2 encodes a tyrosine decarboxylase that converts tyrosine into tyramine, a precursor of octopamine, whereas Tbh catalyzes the conversion of tyramine into octopamine. Thus, these results indicate that reduced octopamine production in two pairs of LNds impairs LTM. Unlike Tdc2 and Tbh knockdown in LNds, ChAT knockdown in LNds had little effect on 5 d memory after 7 h conditioning ( Fig 1C ). As shown in Figure 1C , naive CI in LNd-split-GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 was significantly lower than that in LNd-split-GAL4 control males (Steel–Dwass test, q = 3.338, P < 0.020), despite the absence of a significant difference between LNd-split-GAL4/+ and UAS-Tbh RNAi #1/+ males (Steel–Dwass test, q = 1.60, P = 0.795). In contrast, no significant difference was detected between LNd-split-GAL4 control and LNd-split-GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #2 males (Steel–Dwass test, q = 1.31, P = 0.926). These results suggest that the reduced courtship activity in LNd-split-GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 naive males may not be due to the Tbh knockdown itself, but rather by genetic background effects. LNd-specific knockdown of Tbh has little effect on sleep and circadian rhythms In Drosophila , sleep is required for the consolidation of courtship LTM [ 28 , 29 ]. To confirm whether LTM impairments induced by LNd-specific Tbh knockdown result from altered sleep, we measured the sleep amount in light:Dark (LD) cycles using LNd-split-GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males. LNd-split-GAL4/+ and UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ males were used as the control. For the total sleep amount during the day and night, no significant differences were detected between LNd-split-GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males and UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ control males (S2A-C Fig), although significant differences were detected between LNd-split-GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males and LNd-split-GAL4/+ control males (S2A-C Fig). We also assessed two additional sleep parameters: sleep bout number and sleep bout duration. The sleep bout number during the day in Tbh knockdown males was higher than that in GAL4 control males and lower than that in UAS control males (S2D Fig). There was no significant difference in sleep bout number during the night between the GAL4 control males and Tbh knockdown males (S2D Fig). The sleep bout duration during the day in Tbh knockdown males was shorter than that in GAL4 control males and longer than that in UAS control males (S2E Fig). The sleep bout duration during the night did not differ significantly between the Tbh knockdown males and the GAL4 control males. However, the waking activity index was elevated in Tbh knockdown males only during the day (S2F Fig). Thus, Tbh knockdown has little effect on the amount and quality of sleep, but it appears to selectively increase spontaneous activity during daytime wakefulness. We next examined whether LNd-specific Tbh knockdown affects circadian behavioral rhythms under constant darkness. No significant differences were detected between LNd-split-GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 and control males in the proportion of rhythmic individuals (% rhythmic) or circadian periods (S3 Fig). Taken together, it is unlikely that the memory impairment observed in Tbh knockdown flies results from alterations in circadian rhythms. Temporal knockdown of Tbh in R78G02 -positive cells impairs consolidation and maintenance of LTM Are Tdc2 and Tbh actually expressed in LNds? Previous chronobiological studies have shown that Tdc2 is present in a subset of LNds, as revealed by immunohistochemical staining with an anti-Tdc2 antibody [ 30 ]. To determine whether Tdc2 is expressed in the specific subset labeled by LNd-split-GAL4, we performed immunohistochemical staining with an anti-Tdc2 antibody, which showed Tdc2 signals in two LNd-split-GAL4-positive neurons per hemisphere ( Fig 1D ). Unlike Tdc2, antibodies for Tbh were unavailable. To examine Tbh expression in LNds, we utilized a fly-TransgeneOme (fTRG) line (VDRC ID: 318242), which expresses a C-terminal superfolder GFP (sGFP)-tagged fusion protein under the control of the endogenous Tbh promoter [ 31 ]. In this study, we used a fTRG 318242 line (hereafter referred to as ‘ Tbh-GFP ’) to visualize Tbh -expressing neurons. Since the circadian clock gene period is expressed in all six LNds [ 32 ], we observed all LNds in males homozygous for Tbh-GFP using an anti-Per antibody. The co-expression of Per and Tbh-GFP was detected in all LNds ( Fig 1E ). Therefore, Tbh is likely expressed in LNd-split-GAL4-positive cells. To investigate whether octopamine production in LNds is required for the consolidation or maintenance of LTM, we performed temporal Tbh knockdown experiments using tub -GAL80 ts [ 33 ]. The tub -GAL80 ts transgene encodes a ubiquitously expressed GAL4 repressor that functions at the permissive temperature (PT, 25 °C) but is inactive at the restrictive temperature (RT, 30 °C). However, since GAL80 ts has no effect on split-GAL4-driven gene expression, we used tub -GAL80 ts /UAS- Tbh RNAi #1; R78G02 /+ males in this experiment. tub -GAL80 ts /+; R78G02 -GAL4/+ and UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ males were used as the control. R78G02 expresses GAL4 in three LNds and the 5th s-LNv in each hemisphere [ 34 ]. In Drosophila , the ion transport peptide (ITP) is expressed in one LNd and the 5th s-LNv per brain hemisphere [ 35 ]. To confirm this expression pattern in R78G02 , we performed immunostaining with an anti-ITP antibody. In R78G02 /UAS- mCD8::GFP males, the one LNd and the 5th s-LNv were ITP-positive in each hemisphere ( Fig 2A ). We next examined whether Tdc2 is expressed in R78G02 -positive neurons using an anti-Tdc2 antibody. Tdc2 signals were detected in three LNds and the 5th s-LNv in R78G02 -positive cells in each hemibrain ( Figs 2B and C ). We further confirmed whether Tbh is expressed in GAL4-expressing cells in R78G02 using Tbh-GFP. Tbh-GFP signals were detected in LNds and the 5th s-LNv in R78G02 -positive cells in each hemibrain (S4A and B Fig). Furthermore, they were detected in at least two pairs of R78G02 -positive non-clock neurons located in the posterior–dorsal region (S4C Fig). Download figure Open in new tab Fig. 2 Temporary Tbh knockdown in R78G02 -positive cells impairs LTM maintenance. (A) Confocal section images at LNd and 5th s-LNv levels of the adult brain. R78G02/UAS -mCD8::GFP males were used. Arrows, LNds; arrow heads, 5th s-LNv. Scale bars represent 10 μm. Magenta, ITP; green, mCD8::GFP. (B) Confocal section images at LNd level of the adult brain. R78G02/UAS -mCD8::GFP males were used. Scale bars represent 10 μm. Arrows, LNds; #, non-clock neurons; magenta, Tdc2; green, mCD8::GFP. ( C) Confocal section images at 5th s-LNv level of the adult brain. R78G02/UAS -mCD8::GFP males were used. Arrows, LNds. Scale bars represent 10 μm. Magenta, Tdc2; green, mCD8::GFP. (D–G) 5 d memory in tub -GAL80 ts / UAS- Tbh RNAi #1; R78G02 /+ and control flies. We visualized the data using a box plot with individual data points (white circles). See Fig. 1 for an explanation of box plots. * , P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; NS, not significant; P , probability; U , Mann–Whitney U ; N , sample size in each box. (D) All experiments were carried out at PT (25 °C). (E) Flies were kept at RT (30 °C) for 24 h before the end of 7 h conditioning. (F) Flies were kept at RT for 39 to 63 h after 7 h conditioning. (G) Flies were kept at RT for 24 h before the end of test. To knock down Tbh in R78G02 -positive cells during the memory consolidation, maintenance, or recall phase, we used tub -GAL80 ts /UAS- Tbh RNAi #1; R78G02 -GAL4/+ males. tub -GAL80 ts /+; R78G02 -GAL4/+ and UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ males were used as the control. For the temporal knockdown of Tbh , the temperature was increased to RT (30 °C) for 24 h during three different experimental periods: starting at 24 h before the end of conditioning (consolidation phase), 48–72 h after conditioning initiation (maintenance phase), and 24 h before the test initiation (recall phase). In all genotypes, LTM was intact at PT (25 °C) ( Fig 2D ). On the other hand, the temporal knockdown of Tbh during the consolidation phase or the maintenance phase significantly impaired LTM ( Figs 2E and F ), whereas that during the recall phase did not ( Fig 2G ). These findings suggest that octopamine signaling from R78G02 -positive Tbh-expressing neurons—including a subset of LNds, the 5th s-LNv, and non-clock neurons—plays a critical role in the consolidation and maintenance, but not recall, of courtship LTM. Disruption of neurotransmission in R78G02 -positive cells impairs the consolidation and maintenance of LTM To determine whether neurotransmitter release from R78G02 -positive cells is required for LTM consolidation and maintenance, we experimented with the temporal disruption of neurotransmission using R78G02 /UAS- shi ts1 males. R78G02 /UAS- shi ts1 males showed LTM at PT (25 °C) as was observed in GAL4 and UAS control males ( Fig 3A ). When the temperature was raised to RT (30 °C) during 7 h conditioning, LTM was impaired in R78G02 /UAS- shi ts1 males ( Fig 3B ). In addition, when males were kept at 30 °C for 39–63 h after the end of conditioning, LTM was also impaired ( Fig 3C ). However, the disruption of synaptic transmission from LNds during the test had little effect on LTM ( Fig 3D ). Consistent with the experimental results of Tbh knockdown, these results indicate that disruption of neurotransmission from R78G02 -positive cells impairs LTM consolidation and maintenance. Thus, these results also support our idea that octopamine release from R78G02 -positive cells modulates both LTM consolidation and maintenance. Download figure Open in new tab Fig. 3 Disruption of the neurotransmission in GAL4-expressing cells in R78G02 impairs LTM consolidation and maintenance. (A–D) 5 d memory in R78G02 /UAS- shi ts1 and control flies. We visualized the data using a box plot with individual data points (white circles). See Fig. 1 for an explanation of box plots. * , P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; NS, not significant; P , probability; U , Mann–Whitney U ; N , sample size in each box. (A) All experiments were carried out at PT (25 °C). (B) Flies were kept at RT (30 °C) during 7 h conditioning. (C) Flies were kept at RT for 39 to 63 h after 7 h conditioning. (D) Flies were kept at RT for 30 min before the test began and until the test ended. Octopamine synthesis in ITP-positive clock neurons has little effect on LTM We previously found that the disruption of neurotransmission from LNd-split-GAL4-positive cells impairs only LTM maintenance without affecting LTM consolidation [ 9 ]. On the other hand, Tbh knockdown or blocking neurotransmission in R78G02- positive cells impairs both LTM consolidation and maintenance. Notably, LNd-split-GAL4 is expressed in only two LNds in each hemibrain, whereas R78G02 -positive LNds include an ITP-positive cell in each hemibrain ( Fig 2A ). We confirmed that LNd-split-GAL4-positive cells do not express ITP ( Fig 4A ). Moreover, R78G02 -positive cells include a pair of ITP-positive 5th s-LNvs ( Fig 2A ). The main differences between GAL4-expressing clock neurons in LNd-split-GAL4 and R78G02 can be summarized in Fig 4C . Since ITP-positive LNds and 5th s-LNv are present in R78G02 but absent in LNd-split-GAL4 ( Fig 4C ), we hypothesized that octopamine in these ITP-positive clock neurons might contribute to LTM consolidation. To examine this possibility, we used a GAL4 line, R54D11 . In R54D11 , GAL4 is mainly expressed in one LNd and the 5th s-LNv [ 36 ]. We confirmed that ITP is expressed in R54D11 -positive LNds and the 5th s-LNv ( Fig 4B ). However, the knockdown of either Tbh or Tdc2 in R54D11 -positive cells did not affect LTM ( Fig 4D and E ). Thus, it seems unlikely that octopamine release from ITP-positive clock neurons affects LTM. Download figure Open in new tab Fig. 4 Octopamine in ITP-positive LNds and 5th s-LNv has little effect on LTM. (A) Confocal section images at LNd level of the adult brain. Arrows, LNds. Scale bars represent 20 μm. LNd-split-GAL4/UAS -mCD8::GFP flies were used. Magenta, ITP; green, mCD8::GFP. (B) Confocal section images at LNd and 5th s-LNv level of the adult brain. Arrows, LNds; Arrow heads, 5th s-LNv. Scale bars represent 20 μm. Magenta, ITP; green, mCD8::GFP. (C) Schematic of GAL4-expressing clock neurons in LNd-split-GAL4, R78G02 , and R54D11 . (D) 5 d memory in R54D11 /UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 and control males. (E) 5 d memory in UAS- Dicer2 /+; R54D11 /UAS- Tdc2 RNAi and control males. (D, E) We visualized the data using a box plot with individual data points (white circles). See Fig. 1 for an explanation of box plots. ***, P < 0.001; NS, not significant; P , probability; U , Mann–Whitney U ; N , sample size in each box. In summary, octopamine synthesis in the two LNds, excluding ITP-positive LNds, among R78G02 -positive cells appears to be necessary for LTM maintenance. On the other hand, octopamine synthesis in R78G02 -positive non-clock neurons may be involved in LTM consolidation. Temporal knockdown of Tbh in Pdf neurons impairs LTM consolidation We previously identified that neurotransmission from Pdf neurons is required for LTM consolidation [ 5 ]. Tdc2 is also expressed in Pdf neurons [ 30 ]. Thus, we investigated whether Tdc2 and Tbh in Pdf neurons are involved in LTM consolidation. First, we confirmed whether Tdc2 is expressed in Pdf-positive l-LNvs and s-LNvs using an anti-Tdc2 antibody ( Figs 5A and B ). In the case of l-LNvs, all 20 brains examined showed Tdc2 signals in four l-LNvs per hemisphere ( Fig 5A ). In contrast, among the 18 brains analyzed for s-LNvs, although Tdc2 signals were detected in only a single s-LNv in one hemisphere of one brain, they were absent in the s-LNvs of nearly all other brains ( Fig 5B ). Furthermore, to confirm whether Tbh is also expressed in Pdf neurons, Pdf-positive l-LNvs and s-LNvs in Tbh-GFP males were visualized using an anti-Pdf antibody. In Tbh-GFP males, strong GFP signals were detected in all l-LNvs, whereas weak GFP signals were detected in s-LNvs ( Figs 5C and D ). Taken together, these results suggest that octopamine is synthesized in Pdf neurons, and that synthesis in l-LNvs among Pdf neurons is particularly prominent. Download figure Open in new tab Fig. 5 Inhibition of octopamine synthesis in Pdf neurons induces LTM impairments. (A) Confocal section images at l-LNv level of the adult brain. Dotted area, l-LNvs. Scale bars represent 20 μm. Pdf- GAL4/UAS -mCD8::GFP flies were used. Magenta, Tdc2; green, mCD8::GFP. (B) Confocal section images at s-LNv level of the adult brain. Dotted area, s-LNvs. Scale bars represent 20 μm. Pdf- GAL4/UAS -GFP.nls flies were used. Magenta, Tdc2; green, GFP.NLS. (C) Confocal section images at l-LNv level of the adult brain. Dotted area, l-LNvs. Scale bars represent 20 μm. Males homozygous for Tbh-GFP were used. Magenta, Pdf; green, Tbh-GFP. (D) Confocal section images at s-LNv level of the adult brain. Dotted area, s-LNvs. Scale bars represent 20 μm. Males homozygous for Tbh-GFP were used. Magenta, Pdf; green, Tbh-GFP. (E) 5 d memory in UAS- Dicer2 / Pdf -GAL4; UAS- Tdc2 RNAi/+ males. Pdf-GAL4/+ and UAS- Dicer2 /+; UAS- Tdc2 RNAi/+ males were used as the control. (F) 5 d memory in Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males. Pdf -GAL4/+ and UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ males were used as the control. (E, F) We visualized the data using a box plot with individual data points (white circles). See Fig. 1 for an explanation of box plots. **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; NS, not significant; P , probability; U , Mann–Whitney U ; N , sample size in each box. We next investigated the effects of Tdc2 and Tbh knockdown on LTM. The knockdown of Tdc2 or Tbh in Pdf neurons impaired LTM. ( Figs 5E and F ). In Figure 5F , the CI of naive males in Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 was significantly lower than that in GAL or UAS control ( Pdf -GAL4/+ vs Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1, Steel–Dwass test, q = 3.90, P < 0.001; UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ vs Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1, Steel–Dwass test, q = 4.77, P < 0.001). These findings suggest that octopamine in Pdf neurons plays a direct role in regulating male courtship activity. However, Tbh knockdown in Pdf neurons did not affect courtship STM (S5 Fig), suggesting that the reduction in CI by Tbh knockdown does not interfere with courtship STM formation. To test whether octopamine production in Pdf neurons is required for LTM consolidation, we performed temporal knockdown experiments using Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1; tub -GAL80 ts /+ males. Pdf-GAL4/+; tub-GAL80 ts /+ and UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ males were used as the control. In the experiments, the PT was 22°C outside the test phase and 25°C during the test phase. In all genotypes, LTM was intact at PT on day 5 after 7 h conditioning ( Fig 6A ). When males were kept at RT (30 °C) during the period from 17 h before the initiation of conditioning to the end of conditioning, LTM was impaired ( Fig 6B ). In addition, no significant differences in the CI of naive males were detected between GAL4 control and Tbh knockdown males ( Pdf -GAL4/+; tub -GAL80 ts / + vs Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1; tub -GAL80 ts / + ; Steel–Dwass test, q = 0.878, P = 0.654; UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ vs Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1; tub -GAL80 ts / + , Steel–Dwass test, q = 2.906, P < 0.05). However, raising the temperature to 30 °C during the maintenance phase (39–63 h after conditioning) had little effect on LTM ( Fig 6C ) and the CI of naive males ( Pdf -GAL4/+; tub -GAL80 ts / + vs Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1; tub -GAL80 ts / + ; Steel–Dwass test, q = 0.175, P = 0.983; UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ vs Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1; tub -GAL80 ts / + , Steel–Dwass test, q =2.526, P < 0.05). Since we previously confirmed that neurotransmission from Pdf neurons does not affect LTM recall [ 5 ], we did not perform recall-phase-specific Tbh knockdown. Taken together with previous findings, these results suggest that octopamine signaling in Pdf neurons mainly contributes to LTM consolidation but not LTM maintenance or recall. Download figure Open in new tab Fig. 6 Temporary Tbh knockdown in Pdf neurons impairs LTM consolidation. (A) All experiments were carried out at PT (22–25 °C). (B) Flies were kept at RT (30 °C) for 24 h before the end of 7 h conditioning. (C) Flies were kept at RT for 39 to 63 h after 7 h conditioning. (A–C) 5 d memory in Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1; tub -GAL80 ts / + and control males. We visualized the data using a box plot with individual data points (white circles). See Fig. 1 for an explanation of box plots. ***, P < 0.001; NS, not significant; P , probability; U , Mann–Whitney U ; N , sample size in each box. The CI of naive males in Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 was significantly lower than that in GAL or UAS control males ( Fig 5 ). However, in the temporal knockdown experiments, no significant difference was detected between the CI of the Tbh knockdown males and that of the GAL4 control males. ( Fig 6 ). Thus, the reduced courtship activity observed in Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males is likely due to developmental defects caused by the suppression of Tbh expression. Tbh knockdown in Pdf neurons has little effect on sleep and circadian rhythms Pdf-expressing l-LNvs are essential for light-dependent arousal in Drosophila [ 16 ]. Thus, we examined whether Tbh knockdown in Pdf neurons affects the sleep phenotype using Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males. Pdf -GAL4/+ and UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ males were used as the control. Regarding the total sleep amount during the day, no significant differences were detected between Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males and UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ control males (S6A and B Figs), whereas significant differences were detected between Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males and Pdf -GAL4/+ control males (S6A and B Figs). Regarding the total sleep amount during the night, no significant differences were detected among the three genotypes (S6A and C Figs). Regarding both sleep bout number and sleep bout duration, no significant differences were detected between Tbh knockdown males and UAS control males (S6D and E Figs). Regarding the waking activity index, no significant differences were detected between Tbh knockdown males and UAS control males (S6F Fig). Thus, octopamine signaling in Pdf neurons does not appear to have a major impact on the sleep phenotype or spontaneous activity. Huang et al. reported that Tdc2 knockdown in Pdf neurons induces arrhythmic locomotor activity [ 30 ]. However, it remains unclarified whether Tbh in Pdf neurons is also necessary for rhythmic locomotor activity. To address this possibility, we examined whether Tbh knockdown in Pdf neurons affects circadian behavioral rhythms in constant darkness. Unlike Tdc2 knockdown, Tbh knockdown in Pdf neurons did not affect the percentage of rhythmic flies or circadian periods ( Figs 7A–C ). Thus, it is unlikely that octopamine in Pdf neurons affects circadian rhythms. However, about 60% of the 55 Tdc2 knockdown males had arrhythmic locomotor activity ( Figs 7D–G ), indicating that Tdc2 in Pdf neurons is required for circadian behavioral rhythms. This finding is consistent with the previous finding [ 30 ]. Taken together, tyramine, rather than octopamine, seems to be the key neurotransmitter released from Pdf neurons in regulating circadian rhythms. Download figure Open in new tab Fig. 7 Expression of Tdc2 , but not Tbh , in Pdf neurons is required for circadian behavioral rhythms. (A–G) Double-plotted actogram in DD. The bar above each actogram indicates subjective day (gray) and night (black). Each actogram shows locomotor activity for 10 days in DD at 25◦C. We used the Kruskal–Wallis test for comparisons of the circadian period. The same letters in superscripts indicate no significant difference ( P > 0.05). N , sample size. (A–C) Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males were used. Pdf -GAL4/+ and UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ males were used as the control. N , sample size. For the percentage of rhythmicity (% rhythmic), UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ or Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males were compared with GAL4 control males. (D–G) UAS- Dicer2 / Pdf -GAL4; UAS- Tdc2 RNAi/+ males were used. Pdf -GAL4/+ and UAS- Dicer2 /+; UAS- Tdc2 RNAi/+ males were used as the control. N , sample size. For the percentage of rhythmicity (% rhythmic), UAS control males or F 1 males between the GAL4 and UAS lines were compared with GAL4 control males. Discussion Octopamine, a functional analog of vertebrate norepinephrine [ 24 ], plays a key role in regulating various behaviors and physiological processes in invertebrates, including feeding, sleep, memory, aggression, and oviposition [ 26 , 37 - 41 ]. Since Tbh and Tdc2 are broadly expressed in the fly brain [ 37 ], octopamine-mediated neurotransmission is considered to be a major modulator of neuronal activity and behavior. In the Drosophila brain, Tdc2 is expressed in a subset of clock neurons including Pdf neurons and LNds, and the expression levels of Tdc2 mRNA and its protein are cycled in a circadian manner [ 30 ]. Since the knockdown of Tdc2 in Pdf neurons induces arrhythmic locomotor activity [ 30 ], tyramine or octopamine in Pdf neurons may contribute to the generation of circadian behavioral rhythms. Consistent with the previous report [ 30 ], we also confirmed that Tdc2 knockdown in Pdf neurons induces arrhythmic locomotor activity ( Fig 7 ). Nevertheless, Tbh knockdown in Pdf neurons had negligible effects on circadian behavioral rhythms ( Fig 7 ). These findings suggest that tyramine, rather than octopamine, in Pdf neurons is primarily responsible for regulating circadian rhythms. However, the role of octopamine synthesis in clock neurons in regulating brain functions beyond circadian control had not yet been identified. In this study, we found that the LNd-specific knockdown of Tbh and Tdc2 induces LTM impairment ( Fig 1 ), and the Pdf-neuron-specific knockdown of Tbh and Tdc2 also induces LTM impairment ( Fig 5 ). Furthermore, we confirmed that octopamine synthesis in LNds and Pdf neurons does not significantly affect sleep (S2 and S6 Figs). Thus, we demonstrated for the first time that octopamine synthesis in clock neurons is essential for courtship LTM without affecting circadian behavioral rhythms and sleep in Drosophila . Immunostaining with an anti-Tdc2 antibody revealed Tdc2 signals in a subset of LNds ( Figs 1D and 2B ), whereas Tbh-GFP signals were detected in all six LNds ( Fig 1E ). Similarly, in Pdf neurons, Tdc2 signals were primarily detected in l-LNvs, with little to no signal detected in the s-LNvs except in a single cell ( Fig 5 ). On the other hand, Tbh-GFP males revealed strong Tbh-GFP signals in all four l-LNvs per hemisphere and weak Tbh-GFP signals in all four s-LNvs per hemisphere ( Fig 5 ). These results suggest that the anti-Tdc2 antibody may have limited sensitivity and might not detect Tdc2 in cells expressing low Tdc2 levels. Nevertheless, in LNd-split-GAL4, both the anti-Tdc2 antibody and Tbh-GFP signals were detected in two pairs of LNds, indicating that both Tdc2 and Tbh are expressed in LNd-split-GAL4-positive LNds. In LNd-split-GAL4, split-GAL4 expression is restricted to only two pairs of LNds, and the blockade of neurotransmission in these neurons selectively impairs LTM maintenance [ 9 ]. Since Tbh is expressed in all LNds ( Fig 1 ), LNd-split-GAL4-positive neurons should be Tbh-positive. Furthermore, the LNd-specific knockdown of Tbh or Tdc2 using LNd-split-GAL4 resulted in LTM impairment ( Fig 1 ). These findings suggest that octopamine-mediated neurotransmission from at least two pairs of LNds plays a critical role in the maintenance of courtship LTM ( Fig 8A ). In Drosophila , MB neurons are considered crucial for courtship LTM, raising the possibility that octopamine release from LNds may modulate MB functions to maintain LTM. However, we were unable to find direct projections from LNds to MB neurons in the database of Drosophila connectomics ( neu Print; https://neuprint.janelia.org/?dataset=hemibrain%3Av1.0.1&qt=findneurons ), suggesting that interneurons likely relay information from LNds to the MB. As a next step towards elucidating the molecular and circuit mechanisms underlying LTM maintenance, it will be interesting to identify the octopamine receptors necessary for this process and then to determine which neurons expressing these receptors are required for LTM maintenance. Download figure Open in new tab Fig. 8 Possible model of octopamine neurotransmission from clock neurons regulating the consolidation and maintenance of LTM. (A) Octopamine-mediated neurotransmission from at least two pairs of LNds plays a critical role in the maintenance of courtship LTM. (B) Octopamine signaling from Pdf neurons is essential for LTM consolidation. (C) Octopamine-mediated neurotransmission from R78G02 -positive LNds—excluding ITP-positive neurons—contributes to LTM maintenance. In contrast, octopamine signaling from R78G02 -positive non-clock neurons may regulate LTM consolidation. In R78G02 , GAL4 is expressed in two pairs of LNds, one pair of ITP-positive LNds, one pair of 5th s-LNvs, and multiple non-clock neurons ( Figs 2 and S4). Among the GAL4-expressing neurons in R78G02 , three pairs of LNds and one pair of 5th s-LNvs were Tdc2-positive ( Fig 2 ). The temporal knockdown of Tbh in R78G02 resulted in impairments in both LTM consolidation and maintenance ( Fig 2 ). However, Tbh knckdown in ITP-positive LNds and the 5th s-LNv using R54D11 did not affect LTM ( Fig 4 ). Taken together, the impairment of LTM maintenance should be due to the inhibition of octopamine synthesis in at least two pairs of LNds in R78G02 ( Fig 8C ). However, the cause of the observed LTM consolidation deficit remains unclear. Since neither LNds nor ITP-positive clock neurons are likely to mediate this effect, it is plausible that octopamine release from non-clock neurons within the R78G02 -positive neurons is responsible for the observed impairment in LTM consolidation. Identifying which of these neurons contributes to memory consolidation will be important for mapping the underlying circuitry of Drosophila courtship LTM. Tbh-GFP signals were detected in at least four neurons located in the dorsoposterior region within the R78G02-positive non-clock neurons (S4C Fig). These non-clock neurons may be candidates for mediating the octopaminergic regulation of LTM consolidation. We previously reported that Pdf neurons have two distinct roles in Drosophila courtship LTM [ 3 ]. Pdf secretion from l-LNvs is specifically required for LTM maintenance ( Fig 1B ) [ 8 ], whereas Dynamine-dependent neurotransmission from Pdf neurons is critically involved in LTM consolidation ( Fig 1B ) [ 5 ]. However, the classical neurotransmitter released from the Pdf neurons involved in LTM consolidation had not been identified. In this study, we confirmed Tdc2 signals in Pdf-positive l-LNvs but not s-LNvs and Tbh-GFP signals in s-LNvs and l-LNvs ( Fig 5 ). The knockdown of either Tdc2 or Tbh specifically in Pdf neurons resulted in LTM impairment ( Fig 5 ). Furthermore, the temporal knockdown of Tbh in Pdf neurons during the consolidation phase also disrupted LTM ( Fig 6 ), suggesting that octopaminergic neurotransmission from Pdf neurons is essential for LTM consolidation ( Fig 8B ). As with LNds, there is currently no anatomical evidence for direct synaptic connections between Pdf neurons and MB neurons [ 3 ]. Thus, identifying the interneurons expressing the octopamine receptors necessary for information transmission from Pdf neurons to MB neurons may be a breakthrough in elucidating the neural network between Pdf neurons and MB neurons. We previously demonstrated that environmental light plays a critical role in LTM maintenance by activating the transcriptional factor CREB in MBs via Pdf signaling. In this study, we found that octopamine neurotransmission from a single pair of LNds is essential for LTM maintenance. However, it remains elusive whether octopamine signaling from LNds and Pdf signaling from Pdf neurons function as part of a sequential pathway or operate independently. Among the six LNds, the Pdf receptor (Pdfr) is expressed in three LNds [ 42 , 43 ], and LNd-split-GAL4-expressing neurons are Pdfr-positive [ 44 ]. Therefore, elucidating whether light-dependent Pdf release from l-LNvs regulates octopamine release from LNds will be an important step toward understanding the neural circuitry underlying LTM maintenance. Drosophila has four distinct octopamine receptors (Oamb, Octβ1R, Octβ2R, and Octβ3R) [ 45 ]. Some of these receptors play important roles in memory processing. Octβ2R is expressed in MB [ 46 ] and is involved in the octopamine-dependent reinforcement of appetitive memory [ 47 ] as well as anesthesia-resistant aversive memory [ 46 ]. Oamb, which is primarily expressed in MB, is involved in aversive and appetitive olfactory memory in Drosophila [ 48 , 49 ]. Octopamine signaling is also essential for courtship STM. Zhou et al. reported that deletion mutations of Tbh and Oamb inhibit immediate memory after 1 h courtship conditioning, and specific Tdc2-positive neurons project to the MB neurons [ 50 ]. On the other hand, our findings reveal that Tdc2- and Tbh-positive Pdf neurons and LNds are critically involved in regulating different aspects of courtship LTM. Since it seems unlikely that Pdf neurons and LNds project directly to the MB, neural circuits different from the octopamine signaling pathway identified by Zhou et al. should be involved in the consolidation and maintenance of courtship LTM. In memory research using Drosophila courtship conditioning, many genes essential for LTM have been identified [ 3 ]. Many of these genes are expressed in MB neurons, whereas others are found in clock neurons [ 3 ]. These findings suggest that both the consolidation and maintenance of courtship LTM are regulated by a complex neural network involving interactions between clock neurons and MB neurons [ 3 ]. Furthermore, clock genes have also been implicated in the consolidation of aversive associative olfactory memory [ 51 - 53 ]. Therefore, the complex neural network composed of clock and MB neurons may be involved in processing various types of memory in Drosophila . The findings presented here offer new insights into the neural circuits underlying LTM and will aid future efforts to map the specific pathways responsible for memory processing in the Drosophila brain. Materials and Methods Fly stocks All flies were raised on glucose–yeast–cornmeal medium in 12:12 LD cycles at 25.0 ± 0.5°C (45%–60% relative humidity). Virgin males and females were collected without anesthesia within 8 h after eclosion. The fly stocks used for this study were as follows: wild-type Canton-S (CS), R78G02 [40010, Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center (BDSC)], R18H11 -AD (68852, BDSC), R78G02 -DBD (69904, BDSC), UAS- mCD8::GFP (5137, BDSC), UAS- shi ts1 (a gift from Dr. Kitamoto), UAS- Tdc2 RNAi (25871, BDSC), UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 (67968, BDSC), UAS- Tbh RNAi #2 (76062, BDSC), UAS- ChAT RNAi (60028, BDSC), tub -GAL80 ts (7017, 7019, BDSC), UAS- Dicer2 (24650, BDSC), R54D11 (41279, BDSC), nSyb -GAL4 (51635, BDSC), UAS- mCherry.NLS (38425, BDSC), UAS- GFP.NLS (24775, BDSC), Pdf -GAL4 (6900, BDSC), and Tbh-GFP [318242, Vienna Drosophila Resource Center (VDRC)]. All lines except for UAS- Tdc2 RNAi, UAS- Tbh RNAi #1, UAS- Tbh RNAi #2, UAS- ChAT RNAi, and R54D11 were outcrossed for at least 6 generations to white 1118 flies with the CS genetic background. R18H11 -AD and R78G02 -DBD were used to produce an LNd-split-GAL4 line [ 9 ]. In this study, only UAS- Tdc2 RNAi was used in combination with UAS- Dicer2 . Unlike UAS- Tdc2 RNAi, the TRiP RNAi lines generated using the VALIUM20 vector in this study (UAS- Tbh RNAi #1, UAS- Tbh RNAi #2, and UAS- ChAT RNAi) are expected to be effective even without being combined with UAS- Dicer2 ( https://bdsc.indiana.edu/stocks/rnai/rnai_all.html ). Thus, they were used without being combined with UAS- Dicer2 . Courtship conditioning assay The courtship conditioning assay was carried out as previously described [ 5 , 9 ]. For LTM, a virgin male (3–6 d old) was placed with a mated female (4–7 d old) in a conditioning chamber (15 mm diameter × 5 mm depth) containing food for 7 h either with (conditioned) or without (naive) a single premated female (7 h conditioning). After 7 h conditioning, only flies showing courtship behaviors toward the mated female were transferred to a glass tube with food (12 mm diameter × 75 mm depth) and kept in isolation for 5 d until the test. The test was performed using a freeze-killed virgin female in a test chamber (15 mm diameter × 3 mm depth). All procedures in the experiments were performed at 25 ± 1.0°C (45–60% relative humidity) except for the temperature shift experiments. The CI was used to quantify the male courtship behaviors of individual flies and was calculated manually. CI is defined as the percentage of time spent performing courtship behaviors during 10 min. We first measured CI in conditioned and naive males (CI Conditioned and CI Naive , respectively), and then the mean CI Naive and mean CI Conditioned were calculated. To quantify courtship memory as previously reported [ 5 , 8 , 9 , 21 ], MI was calculated using the following formula: MI = (mean CI Naive - mean CI Conditioned )/mean CI Naive . Temporal disruption of neurotransmission using shi ts1 Neurotransmission was temporally disrupted as previously described [ 5 ]. Briefly, control males (GAL4/+ and UAS- shi ts1 /+) and shi ts1 -expressing males were used in the experiments. They were kept at PT ( 25 °C) until the temperature shift experiments. To disrupt neurotransmission in GAL4-expressing neurons during the memory consolidation, maintenance, or recall phase, the temperature was increased to RT ( 30 °C) during three experimental periods: 7 h conditioning (memory consolidation phase), 39 to 63 h after the end of conditioning (memory maintenance phase), and 30 min before the test initiation (recall phase). Temporal knockdown of gene expression using the TARGET system Gene expression using the TARGET system [ 33 ] was temporally knocked down as previously described [ 5 , 8 ]. The transgene tub- GAL80 ts used in the TARGET system encodes a ubiquitously expressed, temperature-sensitive GAL4 repressor that is active at PT but not at RT. In Figure 2 , the PT was 25°C. In Figure 6 , the PT was 22°C outside the test phase and 25°C during the test phase. Using UAS- Tbh RNAi#1 combined with the TARGET system, we knocked down Tbh in GAL4-positive neurons at RT (30°C). In these experiments, we shifted PT to RT and vice versa during three experimental phases: 24 h before the end of conditioning, 39–63 h after conditioning, and 24 h before the test initiation. Real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) The effectiveness of Tdc2 RNAi and Tbh RNAi was confirmed by qRT-PCR using a pan-neural GAL4 line, nSyb -GAL4 as previously described [ 9 ]. TRizol (Invitrogen, USA) was used to collect total RNA from about 30 male fly heads in each genotype. cDNA was synthesized by the reverse transcription reaction using a PrimeScript™ RT reagent kit (RR047A, TAKARA, Japan). qRT-PCR was carried out using a LightCycler 96 (Roche, Switzerland) and the THUNDERBIRD SYBR qPCR Mix (QPS-201, TOYOBO, Japan). The primer sequences used for qRT-PCR were as follows: tdc2 -Forward, 5′- GAAGGGTTCCGACAAGCTGAATG- 3′; tdc2 -Reverse, 5′- TAGTCAATGTCCTCAGCGGTCG- 3′; Tbh -Forward, 5′- ACTACTATCCGGCCACCAAACTG- 3′; Tbh -Reverse, 5′- ATGCTCCGGTAATTGGACGACC- 3′; rp49 -Forward, 5′- AAGATCGTGAAGAAGCGCAC- 3′; rp49 - Reverse, 5′- TGTGCACCAGGAACTTCTTG- 3′. The expression level of each mRNA was normalized to that of rp49 mRNA. The average normalized mRNA expression levels in control flies were calculated using data from five independent assays. Anti-ITP antibody The antibody against ITP was generated in guinea pigs by Scrum Inc. (Tokyo, Japan). A peptide corresponding to the C-terminal part of ITP (EMDKYNEWRDTL) was chemically synthesized and coupled at the N-terminus to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The synthesized peptide was then used as an antigen to immunize guinea pigs by a conventional method. The specificity of the anti-ITP antibody was validated as previously reported [ 54 ]. Immunohistochemistry Immunohistochemistry was performed as previously described with some modifications [ 9 ]. For Per staining, brains were stained with a rabbit anti-Per antibody (MBS610604, MyBioSource, 1/1000) followed by Alexa Fluor 568 anti-rabbit IgG (A11011, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) as the secondary antibody (1:500). For Tdc2 staining, brains were stained with a rabbit anti-Tdc2 antibody (ab128225, Abcam, 1/250 or pAB0822-P, Covalab, 1/250) followed by Alexa Fluor Plus 555 anti-rabbit IgG (A32732, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) as the secondary antibody (1:1000). For Pdf staining, brains were stained with a mouse anti-Pdf antibody (PDF C7-s, Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank at the University of Iowa, 1:200) followed by Alexa Fluor 568 anti-mouse IgG (A11004, Thermo Fisher Scientific) as the secondary antibody (1:1000). For GFP staining, brains were stained with a chicken anti-GFP antibody (ab13970, Abcam, USA; 1:1000), followed by Alexa Fluor 488 anti-chicken IgG (A11039, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA; 1:1000) as the secondary antibody. For ITP staining, brains were stained with a guinea pig anti-ITP antibody (1:20000), followed by Alexa Fluor 568 anti-guinea pig IgG (A-11075, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA; 1:1000) or Alexa Fluor 647 anti-guinea pig IgG (A-21450, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA; 1:1000) as the secondary antibody. To investigate whether cells co-localizing with Tbh and ITP exist among R78G02 -positive cells, UAS- mCherry.NLS /+; R78G02 / Tbh-GFP males were used. Thus, we performed triple staining using an anti-DsRed antibody (632496, Clontech, 1/1000), an anti-GFP antibody (ab13970, Abcam, USA; 1:1000), and an anti-ITP antibody (1:20000). The following antibodies were used as secondary antibodies: Alexa Fluor Plus 555 anti-rabbit IgG (A32732, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA), Alexa Fluor 488 anti-chicken IgG (A11039, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA; 1:1000), and Alexa Fluor 647 anti-guinea pig IgG (A-21450, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA; 1:1000). Adult male brains were fixed in PBS containing 4% formaldehyde for about 60 min at room temperature. After three washes in PBST (0.2% Triton X-100 in PBS), the brain samples were incubated for 1 h in 1% normal goat serum in PBST for blocking and then incubated with the three primary antibodies for 2 days at 4 °C. Next, they were incubated with the three secondary antibodies for 2 days at 4 °C after three washes in PBST. Fluorescence signals were observed under a confocal microscope (C2 or AX, Nikon, Japan). Sleep analysis Measurements and analysis of sleep were performed as previously described with some modifications [ 55 ]. The DAM system (Trikinetics) was used for sleep measurements. Sleep was measured for 3 days in 12-h L:12-h D (LD) cycles (lights on at 8:30) at 25 °C. We used 5‒7-d-old males at the start of sleep measurements. Locomotor activity data were collected at 1-min intervals for 3 days and analyzed with a Microsoft Excel-based program as described previously [ 56 ]. Total sleep amount, sleep bout number, waking activity index, and sleep bout durations were analyzed for each 12-h period of LD or DD and averaged over 3 days for each condition. Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity Measurements and analysis of circadian behavioral rhythms were performed as previously described with some modifications [ 22 ]. The flies were entrained to 12:12 LD cycles during their development, and 8‒10-d-old single males were placed in glass tubes containing food and monitored for their locomotor activity using the DAM system. Infrared beam crosses in 30 min bins were recorded. The circadian period and rhythmicity were estimated from locomotor activity data collected for 10 days in DD. Statistical analyses All the statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 (IBM Japan, Ltd.) or BellCurve for Excel (Social Survey Research Information Co., Ltd.) except for the comparisons of MI. The circadian period, and rhythmicity were estimated from the locomotor activity data collected for 10 days in DD. All statistical analyses except for the comparisons of MI, circadian period, and rhythmicity were performed as previously described [ 5 , 22 , 55 ]. In the statistical analysis of CI, when the data were not distributed normally, we carried out the arcsine and square root transformations of the data. When the basic data or transformed data were normally distributed, Student’s t -test was used for comparisons. When the basic and transformed data were not distributed normally, we used the Mann–Whitney U test for comparisons. A randomization test based on the bootstrapping method was used in the statistical analysis of MI with an open R script [ 57 ]. The free statistical package R was used for these tests. In sleep analysis, when the basic or transformed data are distributed normally, one-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc analysis using Scheffe’s test was carried out for multiple pairwise comparisons. For multiple group analysis of onparametric data, we used nonparametric ANOVA (Kruskal–Wallis test) followed by the rank-sum test for multiple pairwise comparisons. In the statistical analysis of circadian rhythms, significant circadian rhythmicity was defined as the presence of a periodogram power peak that extends above the significance line ( P < 0.05) in chi-square analysis. Clocklab software (Actimetrics) was used to analyze the circadian period and rhythmicity in each individual fly. All basic data of the circadian period were not normally distributed. The transformed data using arcsine transformation, log transformation, and square root transformation also did not show normal distribution. Thus, we used the Kruskal–Wallis test for comparisons of the circadian period. We used the G test with William’s correction to assess whether the percentage of rhythmicity (% rhythmic in S3 Fig and Fig 7 ) differed significantly between the GAL4 control and the UAS control, or between the GAL4 control and the F 1 hybrids carrying both GAL4 and UAS. In qRT-PCR, the mean (± SEM) ratio was calculated using data from five independent assays. Since the basic or log-transformed data were normally distributed, one-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc analysis using Scheffe’s test was used. Author contributions Conceptualization: Yuto Kureata Data curation: Yuto Kurata, Takaomi Sakai Formal analysis: Yuto Kurata Funding acquisition: Takaomi Sakai Investigation: Yuto Kurata Methodology: Yuto Kurata, Taishi Yoshii Project administration: Takaomi Sakai Writing – original draft: Taishi Yoshii, Takaomi Sakai Supporting information captions S1 Fig. Real-time qRT-PCR analysis of Tdc2 and Tbh mRNA expression levels. (A–D) A pan-neural GAL4 line, nSyb -GAL4, was used to knockdown Tdc2 or Tbh in the experiments. nSyb -GAL4/+ males were used as the control. Mean ± SEM was calculated from five replicates. We visualized the data using a bar chart with individual data points (black circles). NS, not significant. N = 5 in each bar. **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; NS, not significant. (A) UAS- Tdc2 RNAi, (B) UAS- Dicer2 ; UAS- Tdc2 RNAi, (C) UAS- Tbh RNAi #1, and (D) UAS- Tbh RNAi #2 were used in the experiments. S2 Fig. Tbh kcnockdown in LNds has little effect on sleep. All sleep/wake parameters (daily sleep pattern, total day sleep, total night sleep, sleep bout number, sleep bout duration, waking activity index) were analyzed using the data averaged over 3 days of LD. (A–F) Error bars show SEM in each figure. Black circles and bars, LNd-split-GAL4/+; gray circles and bars, UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+; red circles and bars, LNd-split-GAL4/ UAS- Tbh RNAi #1. * , P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; NS, not significant. (A) Daily sleep patterns of control and experimental flies. (B) Total sleep amount during the day. (C) Total sleep amount during the night. (D) Sleep bout number during day and night. (E) Sleep bout duration during day and night. (F) Waking activity indices during day and night. S3 Fig. Tbh knockdown in LNds has little effect on circadian rhythms. Double-plotted actogram in DD. The bar above each actogram indicates subjective day (gray) and night (black). Each actogram shows locomotor activity for 10 days in DD at 25◦C. LNd-split-GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males were used. LNd-split-GAL4/+ and UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ males were used as the control. N , sample size. For the percentage of rhythmicity (% rhythmic), UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ or LNd-split-GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males were compared with GAL4 control males. We used the Kruskal–Wallis test for comparisons of the circadian period. The same letters in superscripts indicate no significant difference ( P > 0.05). N , sample size. S4 Fig. Tbh-GFP co-expressing neurons in R78G02 -positive neurons. (A–C) UAS- mCherry.NLS /+; R78G02 / Tbh-GFP males were used in the experiments. (A) Confocal section images at LNd level of the adult brain. Scale bars represent 20 μm. Arrows, LNds; Green, Tbh-GFP; Blue, mCherry.NLS; Magenta, ITP. (B) Confocal section images at 5th s-LNv level of the adult brain. Scale bars represent 20 μm. Arrow heads, 5th s-LNv; Green, Tbh-GFP; Blue, mCherry.NLS; Magenta, ITP. ( C) Confocal images of posterior view of the adult brain. Scale bars represent 100 μm (left image) and 20 μm (six images on the right). Arrows, Tbh-GFP-positive non-clock neurons; blue, mCherry,NLS; green, Tbh-GFP. S5 Fig. Pdf-neuron-specific knockdown of Tbh does not impair STM. Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1 males were used in the experiments. Pdf -GAL4/+ and UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+ males were used as the control. Males in each genotype were tested 1 h after 1 h conditioning. We visualized the data using a box plot with individual data points (white circles). See Fig. 1 for an explanation of box plots. **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; P , probability; U , Mann–Whitney U ; N , sample size in each box. S6 Fig. Tbh knockdown in Pdf neurons has little effect on sleep. All sleep/wake parameters (daily sleep pattern, total day sleep, total night sleep, sleep bout number, sleep bout duration, waking activity index) were analyzed using the data averaged over 3 days of LD. (A–F) Error bars show SEM in each figure. Black circles and bars, Pdf -GAL4/+; gray circles and bars, UAS- Tbh RNAi #1/+; red circles and bars, Pdf -GAL4/UAS- Tbh RNAi #1. ***, P < 0.001; NS, not significant. (A) Daily sleep patterns of control and experimental flies. (B) Total sleep amount during the day. (C) Total sleep amount during the night. (D) Sleep bout number during day and night. (E) Sleep bout duration during day and night. (F) Waking activity indices during day and night. Acknowledgments We thank Sayuri Takakura and Emiko Nakagawa for technical assistance and Shoma Sato and Show Inami for providing critical comments. We are grateful to the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center and the Drosophila Genomics and Genetic Resources (DGGR, Kyoto Stock Center) for providing the fly strains. 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Share Octopamine signaling from clock neurons plays dual roles in Drosophila long-term memory Yuto Kurata , Taishi Yoshii , Takaomi Sakai bioRxiv 2025.09.23.678153; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.23.678153 Share This Article: Copy Citation Tools Octopamine signaling from clock neurons plays dual roles in Drosophila long-term memory Yuto Kurata , Taishi Yoshii , Takaomi Sakai bioRxiv 2025.09.23.678153; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.23.678153 Citation Manager Formats BibTeX Bookends EasyBib EndNote (tagged) EndNote 8 (xml) Medlars Mendeley Papers RefWorks Tagged Ref Manager RIS Zotero Tweet Widget Facebook Like Google Plus One Subject Area Neuroscience Subject Areas All Articles Animal Behavior and Cognition (7635) Biochemistry (17691) Bioengineering (13892) Bioinformatics (41936) Biophysics (21452) Cancer Biology (18588) Cell Biology (25504) Clinical Trials (138) Developmental Biology (13378) Ecology (19899) Epidemiology (2067) Evolutionary Biology (24320) Genetics (15609) Genomics (22506) Immunology (17736) Microbiology (40394) Molecular Biology (17181) Neuroscience (88605) Paleontology (666) Pathology (2832) Pharmacology and Toxicology (4824) Physiology (7641) Plant Biology (15153) Scientific Communication and Education (2045) Synthetic Biology (4294) Systems Biology (9825) Zoology (2271)