A-To-I Editing Patterns In Behavior And Environment Conditions

Behavior phenotype results from coordinated crosstalk between neuronal and hormonal programs, thus
allowing rapid and integrated organismal responses. Contrary to DNA mutations, RNA modifications do
not change the organism`s genome and enable abundant temporal transcriptomic variations. The most
frequent post-transcriptional modification is RNA A-I editing by the ADAR enzyme`s family. The ADAR
enzymes bind specifically to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) structures and catalyze Adenosine (A) to
Inosine (I), which will be recognized by translation machinery as Guanosine (G). This generates
transcriptomic and proteomic diversity in the resulting molecule. A-I RNA editing is essential to proper
neuronal function and proper brain development. Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) and bees are
commonly used in behavioral studies. Insects express a homolog to mammalian ADAR2 at neuronal
tissues, which mainly recodes sites. In this work, we explore the connection between A-I RNA editing
and behavioral conditions. Here we show that behavioral conditions and neuronal activity influence A-I
editing levels. NPFR expressing neurons, which are part of the reward system in the brain, showed
higher editing levels at courtship and thirst condions. Mushroom bodies, which act as a center of
memory integration in insects, showed changes in editing due to alcohol exposure, and bees conserved
flight. Our results demonstrate that ADAR may be involved in shaping behavioral phenotypes. A-I RNA
editing may be one of the causes of rapid organism response and adaptation. Further analysis of sites
and genes influenced by ADAR may reveal genes that shape the complex behavioral trait.