Romeo D. auteur aut IRD Ramirez-Calero S. auteur aut IRD Ravasi T. auteur aut IRD Rodolfo-Metalpa Riccardo auteur aut IRD Schunter C. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access One crucial interaction for the health of fish communities in coral reefs is performed by cleaner fish by removing ectoparasites from the body of other fish, so-called clients. Studying the underlying mechanisms of this behaviour is essential to understanding how species react to social stimuli and defining the drivers of mutualistic social behaviour. Here, we pinpoint the neural molecular mechanisms in the cleaning behaviour of Labroides dimidiatus in the wild through an in situ interaction experiment at a coral reef in New Caledonia. Five cleaners and clients (Abudefduf saxatilis) were placed into underwater aquaria to interact, while five were not presented with a client. The brain transcriptomes revealed 233 differentially expressed genes in cleaners that were interacting with a client. Among these genes, grin2d, npy, slc6a3 and immediate early genes (IEGs; fosb and fosl1) were related to learning and memory, glutamate and dopamine pathways, which confirm molecular pathways observed in laboratory studies. However, a new potential mechanism was found with npy (neuropeptide Y) as a driver of feeding behaviour. These results show the role of neurotransmitters and IEGs in mutualistic social behaviour, unveiling the mechanism behind the feeding stimulus that leads the cleaner fish to establish mutualistic interactions in coral reefs. specialized mutualism cleaner fish brain transcriptome neuroethology cleaning behaviour NOUVELLE CALEDONIE 034 036 20 10 20240339 [8 p.] 2024 1744-9561 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091976 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0339 1744-9561 [F B010091976] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091976 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2024-12/010091976.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2024-12-04 2024-12-04 fdi:010091976 fre