Isolation and characterization of feeding behavior mutants in Drosophila melanogaster.

Feeding behavior mutants of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster having point-mutations were isolated. The defects were analyzed in order to study the mechanism of feeding behavior. Point-mutations named febB (three allele) and febA (three allele) were located between the X-chromosome markers cho and cv and between the markers cv and v, respectively. The febB mutants showed a higher acceptance threshold of the proboscis extension reflex than wild-type flies and showed a normal chemosensory response to the electrophysiological test. The mutant (febB2) showed a higher starvation tolerance than the wild-type fly, but this was not a cause of the high acceptance threshold. Mosaic analysis was applied to the mutant. Internal tissues were suspected to be the primary focus of the abnormal behavior.