Insects thrive in diverse ecological niches in large part because of their highly sophisticated
olfactory systems. Over the last two decades, a major focus in the study of insect olfaction …

Genetic approaches in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, have led to a major triumph in
the field of sensory biology—the discovery of multiple large families of sensory receptors …

A balanced intake of macronutrients—protein, carbohydrate and fat—is essential for the well-
being of organisms. An adequate calorific intake but with insufficient protein consumption …

Amino acid availability is monitored by animals to adapt to their nutritional environment.
Beyond gustatory receptors and systemic amino acid sensors, enteroendocrine cells (EECs) …

Mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) regulates cell growth and metabolism
in response to multiple nutrients, including the essential amino acid leucine. Recent work in …

Chemosensory-related gene (CRG) families have been studied extensively in insects, but
their evolutionary history across the Arthropoda had remained relatively unexplored. Here …

Through analysis of the Drosophila ionotropic receptors (IRs), a family of variant ionotropic
glutamate receptors, we reveal that most IRs are expressed in peripheral neuron …

The insect gustatory system senses taste information from environmental food substrates
and processes it to control feeding behaviors. Drosophila melanogaster has been a …

Carboxylic acids are present in many foods, being especially abundant in fruits. Yet,
relatively little is known about how acids are detected by gustatory systems and whether …

The brain adaptively integrates present sensory input, past experience, and options for
future action. The insect mushroom body exemplifies how a central brain structure brings …