RNA-edited Behavior: A Fly's Sense of Pheromones

RNA editing regulates protein translation without altering the genomic DNA sequence, by converting adenosine (A) to inosine (I), which is read as guanosine (G) by the translation machinery. This modification is able to change the genetic code and, consequently, the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein. In a study published in Science Advances, Prof. Galit Shohat-Ophir and colleagues investigated the effects of an RNA editing site in the glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluClα) of Drosophila melanogaster. They identified an editing-induced isoleucine-to-valine substitution at position 27 of GluClα. Preventing this modification impaired olfactory processing in projection neurons, reducing the flies’ sensitivity to odors and decreasing their responsiveness to pheromones, which are essential for social interactions. These findings establish a direct link between an evolutionarily-conserved RNA modification, neuronal function, and behavior.