Rewired for Romance: Scientists Give Gift-Giving Behavior to Singing Fruit Flies

In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Science, researchers from Japan have successfully transferred a unique courtship behavior from one species of fruit fly to another. By activating a single gene in insulin-producing neurons, the team made Drosophila melanogaster, a species that typically sings “courtship songs,” perform a gift-giving ritual it had never done before.

The study reveals that the reason for this difference lies in the connection between insulin-producing neurons and the courtship control center in the brain. In gift-giving flies (D. subobscura), these cells are connected, while in singing flies (D. melanogaster), they remain disconnected. This discovery highlights that the evolution of novel behaviors does not necessarily require the emergence of new neurons; instead, small-scale genetic rewiring can lead to behavioral diversification and species differentiation.

The researchers inserted DNA into D. subobscura embryos to create flies with heat-activated proteins in specific brain cells. They used heat to activate groups of these cells and compared the brains of flies that did and did not regurgitate food. The study identified 16-18 insulin-producing neurons that make the male-specific protein FruM, clustered in a part of the brain called the pars intercerebralis.

“Our findings indicate that the evolution of novel behaviors does not necessarily require the emergence of new neurons; instead, small-scale genetic rewiring in a few preexisting neurons can lead to behavioral diversification and, ultimately, contribute to species differentiation,” said Dr. Yusuke Hara, co-lead author from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT).

This study demonstrates how scientists can trace complex behaviors like nuptial gift-giving back to their genetic roots to understand how evolution creates entirely new strategies that help species survive and reproduce.

The research was conducted with support from KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research and has been published in the journal Science on August 14, 2025.

The Secret Motor Protein That Saves Crops from Drought: Uncovering Myosin XI’s Role in Plant Stress Response

In a world where climate change is intensifying, drought has become a major threat to global agriculture. To survive such adverse events, plants have evolved remarkable strategies to conserve water and ensure their survival. One such strategy is “stomatal closure,” where the tiny pores on leaf surfaces, called stomata, close to limit water loss.

While the role of plant hormones like abscisic acid (ABA) in drought response is well-established, researchers have now identified a surprising contributor to this process: myosin XI, a motor protein traditionally known for transporting cellular components. This study, led by Professor Motoki Tominaga from Waseda University, Japan, aimed to determine whether myosin XI actively contributes to drought response in plants and to uncover the processes involved.

The researchers used Arabidopsis thaliana as a model plant to investigate the role of myosin XI in drought response. They created genetically modified plants lacking one, two (2ko), or all three (3ko) major myosin XI genes and compared them to wild-type plants across several tests, including drought survival assays, water loss measurements, stomatal aperture analysis, and ABA sensitivity.

The results were striking. Plants lacking myosin XI, especially the 2ko and 3ko mutants, showed a higher rate of water loss, impaired stomatal closure, and lower survival under drought. They were also less responsive to ABA, as seen in higher germination rates and reduced inhibition of root growth under hormone treatment.

At the cellular level, these mutants exhibited reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and disrupted microtubule remodeling, both essential for ABA-induced stomatal closure. Key stress-related genes also showed decreased expression, indicating that myosin XI plays a regulatory role in ABA signaling.

This study reveals that myosin XI is not just a transport protein but actively supports plant drought defense by coordinating ROS signaling, microtubule remodeling, and gene activation in guard cells. This enables plants to close stomata more effectively and conserve water.

The findings of this research offer several important breakthroughs and pave the way for new research directions. They reveal a previously unrecognized role of myosin XI in plant abiotic stress response, offering deeper insight into how intracellular transport systems aid environmental adaptation.

This discovery is expected to advance fundamental research on how plants respond to stress and contribute to the development of technologies that improve water-use efficiency in crops grown in drought-prone regions. The researchers aim to further advance their research so that this knowledge can be applied to agricultural technologies that support farming in the face of climate change.

In summary, this study uncovers myosin XI as a critical player in plant drought response, linking cellular transport machinery to hormone signaling. As climate pressures grow, insights like these offer promising paths toward developing resilient, water-efficient crops for a changing world.

Unlocking Nature’s Secrets: Scientists Discover Natural Cancer-Fighting Sugar in Sea Cucumbers

In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the University of Mississippi and Georgetown University have discovered a natural sugar compound found in sea cucumbers that can effectively block Sulf-2, an enzyme crucial for cancer growth. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of new cancer therapies.

The research team, led by Marwa Farrag, a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the UM Department of BioMolecular Sciences, worked tirelessly to isolate and study the sugar compound, fucosylated chondroitin sulfate, from the sea cucumber Holothuria floridana. This unique sugar is not commonly found in other organisms, making it an exciting area of research.

Human cells are covered in tiny, hairlike structures called glycans that help with cell communication, immune responses, and the recognition of threats such as pathogens. Cancer cells alter the expression of certain enzymes, including Sulf-2, which modifies the structure of glycans, helping cancer spread. By inhibiting this enzyme, researchers believe they can effectively fight against the spread of cancer.

Using both computer modeling and laboratory testing, the research team found that the sugar compound from sea cucumbers can effectively inhibit Sulf-2, a promising step towards developing new cancer therapies. This natural source is particularly appealing as it does not carry the risk of transferring viruses and other harmful agents, unlike extracting carbohydrate-based drugs from pigs or other land mammals.

While this discovery holds great promise, the researchers acknowledge that further study is needed to develop a viable treatment. One of the challenges lies in finding a way to synthesize the sugar compound for future testing. The interdisciplinary nature of the scientific study highlights the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in tackling complex diseases like cancer.

This groundbreaking research has far-reaching implications for the medical field and demonstrates the power of scientific discovery in unlocking nature’s secrets. As researchers continue to explore this area, they may uncover new therapies that can effectively combat cancer, ultimately saving lives and improving patient outcomes.