Preference for and resistance to a toxic sulfur volatile opens up a unique niche in Drosophila busckii
Abstract The ability to tolerate otherwise toxic compounds can open up unique niches in nature. Among drosophilid flies, few examples of such adaptations are known and those which are known are typically from highly host-specific species. Here we show that the human commensal species Drosophila busc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55971-2 |
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| _version_ | 1832594573484883968 |
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| author | Venkatesh Pal Mahadevan Diego Galagovsky Markus Knaden Bill S. Hansson |
| author_facet | Venkatesh Pal Mahadevan Diego Galagovsky Markus Knaden Bill S. Hansson |
| author_sort | Venkatesh Pal Mahadevan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The ability to tolerate otherwise toxic compounds can open up unique niches in nature. Among drosophilid flies, few examples of such adaptations are known and those which are known are typically from highly host-specific species. Here we show that the human commensal species Drosophila busckii uses dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) as a key mediator in its host selection. Despite DMDS’s neurotoxic properties, D. busckii has evolved tolerance towards high concentrations and uses the compound as an olfactory cue to pinpoint food and oviposition sites. This adaptability is likely linked to insensitivity of the enzyme complex cytochrome c oxidase (COX), which is a DMDS target in other insects. Our findings position D. busckii as a potential model for studying resistance to toxic gases affecting COX and offers insight into evolutionary adaptations within specific ecological contexts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c62dd78ebcee4d4a87d176f07d95c528 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-c62dd78ebcee4d4a87d176f07d95c5282025-01-19T12:31:50ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-55971-2Preference for and resistance to a toxic sulfur volatile opens up a unique niche in Drosophila busckiiVenkatesh Pal Mahadevan0Diego Galagovsky1Markus Knaden2Bill S. Hansson3Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical EcologyDepartment of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical EcologyDepartment of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical EcologyDepartment of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical EcologyAbstract The ability to tolerate otherwise toxic compounds can open up unique niches in nature. Among drosophilid flies, few examples of such adaptations are known and those which are known are typically from highly host-specific species. Here we show that the human commensal species Drosophila busckii uses dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) as a key mediator in its host selection. Despite DMDS’s neurotoxic properties, D. busckii has evolved tolerance towards high concentrations and uses the compound as an olfactory cue to pinpoint food and oviposition sites. This adaptability is likely linked to insensitivity of the enzyme complex cytochrome c oxidase (COX), which is a DMDS target in other insects. Our findings position D. busckii as a potential model for studying resistance to toxic gases affecting COX and offers insight into evolutionary adaptations within specific ecological contexts.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55971-2 |
| spellingShingle | Venkatesh Pal Mahadevan Diego Galagovsky Markus Knaden Bill S. Hansson Preference for and resistance to a toxic sulfur volatile opens up a unique niche in Drosophila busckii Nature Communications |
| title | Preference for and resistance to a toxic sulfur volatile opens up a unique niche in Drosophila busckii |
| title_full | Preference for and resistance to a toxic sulfur volatile opens up a unique niche in Drosophila busckii |
| title_fullStr | Preference for and resistance to a toxic sulfur volatile opens up a unique niche in Drosophila busckii |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preference for and resistance to a toxic sulfur volatile opens up a unique niche in Drosophila busckii |
| title_short | Preference for and resistance to a toxic sulfur volatile opens up a unique niche in Drosophila busckii |
| title_sort | preference for and resistance to a toxic sulfur volatile opens up a unique niche in drosophila busckii |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55971-2 |
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