Professor Young-Joon Kim's research team formulates a new theory that explains the sexual behavior of female insects
□ Professor Young-Joon Kim of the School of Life Sciences at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST, President Seung Hyeon Moon) has identified neurons that regulate the reproductive behavior of female Drosophila and found that reproductive behavior signals are transmitted by the myoinhibitory peptide (Mip), a type of nerve protein.
∘ Among the many instinctive behaviors of Drosophila, this research focused on sexual behavior or mating behavior. Reproduction is an important factor in determining the development of species.
□ After mating, female Drosophila become refractory until the sex peptide (SP) received from the male has been dissipated.
∘ This behavioral change is known to be induced by sex peptide (SP), which is passed from male to female during mating, and SAG and SPSN neurons are known to regulate their behavior by receiving this signal. The exact process and details still need to be clarified.
□ The researchers confirmed that the mating rate of female flies was controlled by the activity of Mip neurons. As a result of genetic manipulation to suppress the secretion of neurotransmitters from the Mip neurons, the initial mating rate of female Drosophila was greatly reduced. However, when genetic manipulation was performed to secrete more neurotransmitter than usual in Mip neurons, the re-mating rate of female Drosophila increased again. Mip was found to be functionally important in controlling the mating behavior of female flies.
□ Professor Young-Joon Kim said, "The results of this study show that the use of myoinhibitory peptide can regulate the mating behavior of female Drosophila and may be used to control the population of a species to an appropriate level. It may also be used to increase the fertility of certain species."
