Aggression is an overt behavior that can be adaptive for individual survival. It occurs when two or more individuals have a conflicting common interest for food, mating partner and territory, with the dominant animals having more access to these resources. Both genetic and epigenetic factors have been shown to play important roles in regulating the levels of aggressiveness. In this study, we utilize Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the control of aggression.
In a search for genes that are involved in modulating aggressive behavior, we found that mutations in the Mocs1 gene encoding Molybdenum cofactor synthase 1 (Mocs1), cause a significant decrease in the levels of fly aggressiveness. Cell-type-specific knockdown shows that Mocs1 is required in neurons for the control of aggression. While Mocs1 mutants display severe defects in aggression, they show normal pattern of sexual discrimination, male-male and male-female mating behaviors. Other behaviors such as olfactory sensation and locomotor activity also remain normal in Mocs1 mutants. These results suggest that Mocs1 plays a specific role in regulating fly aggression. To determine the exact mechanism by which Mocs1 is involved in the control of aggression, we are taking a combination of molecular and genetic approaches to investigate the molecular networks in which Mocs1 functions, and identify the Mocs1-dependent neuronal circuits that directly control aggressive behavior. The results will be presented at the meeting.