Genetic and neuronal mechanisms governing the sex-specific interaction between sleep and sexual behaviors in Drosophila

Animals execute one particular behavior among many others in a context-dependent manner, yet the mechanisms underlying such behavioral choice remain poorly understood. Here we studied how two fundamental behaviors, sex and sleep, interact at genetic and neuronal levels in Drosophila . We show that an increased need for sleep inhibits male sexual behavior by decreasing the activity of the male-specific P1 neurons that coexpress the sex determination genes fru M and dsx , but does not affect female sexual behavior. Further, we delineate a sex-specific neuronal circuit wherein the P1 neurons encoding increased courtship drive suppressed male sleep by forming mutually excitatory connections with the fru M -positive sleep-controlling DN1 neurons. In addition, we find that FRU M regulates male courtship and sleep through distinct neural substrates. These studies reveal the genetic and neuronal basis underlying the sex-specific interaction between sleep and sexual behaviors in Drosophila , and provide insights into how competing behaviors are co-regulated. Genes and circuits involved in sleep and sexual arousal have been extensively studied in Drosophila . Here the authors identify the sex determination genes fruitless and doublesex , and a sex-specific P1-DN1 neuronal feedback that governs the interaction between these competing behaviors