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Data from: Metaplastic neuronal state transition regulates species-specific metabolic state encoding in Drosophila

Tabuchi, Masashi1

Published Jul 28, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x69p8d013

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Jul 28, 2026 version files 591.76 KB

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Abstract

Interoceptive processing, which involves the sensing and integration of internal physiological states, is fundamental to maintaining homeostasis. Protein deprivation constitutes one such internal, homeostatic state. However, how species-specific differences in protein-hunger state encoding arise from the underlying biophysical properties of neural circuit physiology remains unclear. We investigate the biophysical basis of species-specific protein-hunger state encoding by examining protein-hunger dopamine neurons (DA-WED) in two Drosophila species with divergent dietary ecologies. We find that DA-WED neurons in D. melanogaster exhibit weak persistence of internal states, enabling flexible behavioral transitions during nutrient stress. In contrast, D. sechellia shows strong state persistence, locking neurons into a "preferred" configuration during protein deprivation. This divergence is supported by distinct intrinsic membrane properties, including protein deprivation-induced rebound spikes unique to D. sechellia. Analysis of synaptic dynamics and cardiomyocyte electrophysiology reveals species-specific physiological regulations coordinating central and peripheral systems. Behavioral assays confirm corresponding differences in protein consumption strategies, directly linking neural state geometry to ecologically relevant feeding behavior. Our findings establish metaplastic regulation of neural state transitions as a fundamental mechanism through which ecological specialization shapes interoceptive processing and brain-body coordination.