Control of feeding by Piezo-mediated gut mechanosensation in Drosophila

S Min, Y Oh, P Verma, SC Whitehead, N Yapici… - Elife, 2021 - elifesciences.org
S Min, Y Oh, P Verma, SC Whitehead, N Yapici, D Van Vactor, GSB Suh, S Liberles
Elife, 2021elifesciences.org
Across animal species, meals are terminated after ingestion of large food volumes, yet
underlying mechanosensory receptors have so far remained elusive. Here, we identify an
essential role for Drosophila Piezo in volume-based control of meal size. We discover a rare
population of fly neurons that express Piezo, innervate the anterior gut and crop (a food
reservoir organ), and respond to tissue distension in a Piezo-dependent manner. Activating
Piezo neurons decreases appetite, while Piezo knockout and Piezo neuron silencing cause …
Across animal species, meals are terminated after ingestion of large food volumes, yet underlying mechanosensory receptors have so far remained elusive. Here, we identify an essential role for Drosophila Piezo in volume-based control of meal size. We discover a rare population of fly neurons that express Piezo, innervate the anterior gut and crop (a food reservoir organ), and respond to tissue distension in a Piezo-dependent manner. Activating Piezo neurons decreases appetite, while Piezo knockout and Piezo neuron silencing cause gut bloating and increase both food consumption and body weight. These studies reveal that disrupting gut distension receptors changes feeding patterns and identify a key role for Drosophila Piezo in internal organ mechanosensation.
eLife