Chemosensory systems mediate some of the most vital animal behaviors. However, our knowledge of the genetic mechanisms that underlie behavioral responses to olfactory cues remains fragmented. Genome-wide association mapping has greatly advanced our ability to identify candidate loci associated with variation in olfactory behavior, but functional validation of these candidates remain a necessary next step in understanding the mechanisms by which these genes influence chemoreception. In previous genome-wide association analyses, a genomic region that spans multiple polymorphic loci on the left arm of the third chromosome was found to be significantly associated with variation in olfactory behavioral responses to the odorant 2,3-butanedione, a volatile compound present in fermenting fruit. In this study, behavioral analysis of flies possessing either the major or minor haplotype for this region confirmed the association between polymorphisms in the region and variation in olfactory behavior. Moreover, functional dissection of the genes within this region using P-element insertional mutagenesis together with targeted RNAi experiments revealed that the gene CG6767, a gene of previously unknown function but predicted to encode an enzyme responsible for the synthesis and metabolism of nucleic acids, affects olfactory behavioral responses to 2,3-butanedione. Specifically, RNAi mediated knockdown of CG6767 expression in different neuroanatomical populations of the olfactory system suggests that this gene functions in local interneurons of the antennal lobe. These results reveal a new role for CG6767 and its importance in olfactory behavior.

中文翻译：

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基因CG6767影响果蝇的嗅觉行为。

化学感应系统介导了一些最重要的动物行为。但是，我们对构成对嗅觉提示的行为反应基础的遗传机制的知识仍然是零碎的。全基因组关联映射极大地提高了我们识别与嗅觉行为变化相关的候选基因座的能力，但是对这些候选基因的功能验证仍然是理解这些基因影响化学感受机理的下一步。在以前的全基因组关联分析中，发现跨越第三条染色体左臂上多个多态性基因座的基因组区域与嗅觉行为对气味2,3-butanedione（存在于其中的挥发性化合物）的变化显着相关。发酵水果。在这个研究中，具有该区域主要或次要单体型的果蝇的行为分析证实了该区域多态性与嗅觉行为变化之间的关联。此外，使用P元素插入诱变技术和有针对性的RNAi实验对该区域内的基因进行功能解剖，发现基因CG6767是一种以前未知功能的基因，但预计会编码负责核酸合成和代谢的酶，对2，3-丁二酮的嗅觉行为反应。具体来说，RNAi介导嗅觉系统的不同神经解剖种群中的CG6767表达的敲低表明该基因在触角局部神经元中起作用。这些结果揭示了CG6767的新作用及其在嗅觉行为中的重要性。