Edward Kravitz

Edward Kravitz, Ph.D.

George Packer Berry Professor of Neurobiology, Emeritus, Harvard Medical School

Behavioral Genetic Studies of Aggression in Drosophila

Aggression is a universal feature of the behavior of social animals. In the wild, it is used for access to food and shelter, for protection from predation and for selection of mates, all of which are essential for survival. Despite its importance, little is known of the neural mechanisms that underlie aggressive behavior, other than that hormonal substances including amines, peptides and steroid hormones serve important roles in the behavior.

Our laboratory examines aggression using common strains of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Although not widely known, male and female fruit flies fight and males at least become territorial (establish dominance relationships). Learning and memory accompany these fights. With the genome fully sequenced and with elegant methods available for selective manipulation of genes in subsets of central nervous system neurons, behavioral studies of aggression in flies offer a powerful system for identifying fundamental mechanisms underlying this behavior. In initial studies with this system, prior to starting mutant studies, we carried out a quantitative analyses of fighting behavior in male and female flies (see labworks.hms.harvard.edu and PNAS 2002 and 2004). Early studies also identified a single gene, fruitless, that was important in male and female courtship behavior, also was important in differences observed between male and female fighting behavior.  More recently, using genetic methods, we identified single brain serotonin neurons that facilitate going to higher levels of aggression in fights.  Additional genetic tools allow manipulation and visualization of these neurons in behaving animals, and the circuitry involved is currently being worked out.

Publications View
The metabolism of gamma aminobutyric acid in the lobster nervous system. Enzymes in single excitatory and inhibitory axons.
Authors: Authors: Hall ZW, Bownds MD, Kravitz EA.
J Cell Biol
View full abstract on Pubmed
Neuronal geometry: determination with a technique of intracellular dye injection.
Authors: Authors: Stretton AO, Kravitz EA.
Science
View full abstract on Pubmed
The metabolism of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the lobster nervous system--uptake of GABA in the nerve-muscle preparations.
Authors: Authors: Iversen LL, Kravitz EA.
J Neurochem
View full abstract on Pubmed
The metabolism of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the lobster nervous system--glutamic decarboxylase.
Authors: Authors: Molinoff PB, Kravitz EA.
J Neurochem
View full abstract on Pubmed
Physiological and chemical architecture of a lobster ganglion with particular reference to gamma-aminobutyrate and glutamate.
Authors: Authors: Otsuka M, Kravitz EA, Potter DD.
J Neurophysiol
View full abstract on Pubmed
The metabolism of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the lobster nervous system. I. GABA-glutamate transaminase.
Authors: Authors: Hall ZW, Kravitz EA.
J Neurochem
View full abstract on Pubmed
The metabolism of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the lobster nervous system. II. Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase.
Authors: Authors: Hall ZW, Kravitz EA.
J Neurochem
View full abstract on Pubmed
Release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from lobster inhibitory neurones.
Authors: Authors: Iversen LL, Kravitz EA, Otsuka M.
J Physiol
View full abstract on Pubmed
Release of gamma-aminobutyric acid from inhibitory nerves of lobster.
Authors: Authors: Otsuka M, Iversen LL, Hall ZW, Kravitz EA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
View full abstract on Pubmed
Sodium dependence of transmitter uptake at adrenergic nerve terminals.
Authors: Authors: Iversen LL, Kravitz EA.
Mol Pharmacol
View full abstract on Pubmed