Contribution of neurons that express and transcription factors to behavioral rhythms and courtship.

Animals need to integrate information across neuronal networks that direct reproductive behaviors and circadian rhythms. In Drosophila, the master regulatory transcription factors that direct courtship behaviors and circadian rhythms are co-expressed in a small set of neurons. In this study we investigate the role of these neurons in both males and females. We find sex-differences in the number of these and -expressing neurons ( ∩ neurons) that is regulated by male-specific Fru. We assign the ∩ neurons to the electron microscopy connectome that provides high resolution structural information. We also discover sex-differences in the number of -expressing neurons that are post-synaptic targets of -expressing neurons, with more post-synaptic targets in males. When ∩ neurons are activated or silenced, males have a shorter period length. Activation of ∩ neurons also changes the rate a courtship behavior is performed. We find that activation and silencing ∩ neurons impacts the molecular clock in the sLNv master pacemaker neurons, in a cell-nonautonomous manner. These results reveal how neurons that subserve the two processes, reproduction and circadian rhythms, can impact behavioral outcomes in a sex-specific manner.