Data from: The neuropeptide Drosulfakinin regulates social isolation-induced aggression in Drosophila

Social isolation strongly modulates behavior across the animal kingdom. We
utilized the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to study social
isolation-driven changes in animal behavior and gene expression in the
brain. RNA-seq identified several head-expressed genes strongly responding
to social isolation or enrichment. Of particular interest, social
isolation downregulated expression of the gene encoding the neuropeptide
Drosulfakinin (Dsk), the homologue of vertebrate cholecystokinin (CCK),
which is critical for many mammalian social behaviors. Dsk knockdown
significantly increased social isolation-induced aggression. Genetic
activation or silencing of Dsk neurons each similarly increased
isolation-driven aggression. Our results suggest a U-shaped dependence of
social isolation-induced aggressive behavior on Dsk signaling, similar to
the actions of many neuromodulators in other contexts.