Temporal pattern of locomotor activity in Drosophila melanogaster

Martin, J. R.; Ernst, Roman; Heisenberg, Martin

doi:10.1007/s003590050307

Cited by 188 publications

(211 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…These tantalizing observations raise the possibility that the aberrant phenotypes observed in unf mutants may be the result of a failure to develop or maintain axons of unfdependent neurons, consistent with the behavioral and morphological phenotypes observed in C. elegans fax-1 mutants (Wightman et al, 1997;Much et al, 2000). We propose that unf mutants will exhibit deficits in mushroom body-dependent behaviors including olfactory learning, courtship, and locomotion (Heisenberg et al, 1985;Skoulakis and Davis, 1996;Martin et al, 1998;Sakai and Kitamoto, 2006). Future studies of the unf gene and unf-dependent neurons will provide insight into molecular genetic pathways that control neuronal architecture and behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The unfulfilled/DHR51 gene of Drosophila melanogaster modulates wing expansion and fertility

Sung

Wong

Sen

et al. 2008

Developmental Dynamics

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This is the first functional analysis in Drosophila of unfulfilled (unf; DHR51), the NR2E3 nuclear receptor superfamily ortholog of C. elegans fax-1 and human PNR. Both fax-1 and PNR mutations disrupt developmental events in a limited number of neurons, resulting in behavioral or sensory deficits. An analysis of two independent unf alleles revealed that unf mutants are characterized by one of two phenotypes. A proportion of the mutants eclosed but failed to expand their wings and were poorly coordinated. The remainder completed wing expansion but displayed severely compromised fertility. Consistent with the restricted neural expression of fax-1 and PNR, unf expression was detected in situ only in mushroom body neurons and a small number of other cells of the central nervous system (CNS). These data support the hypothesis that the wing expansion failure and the compromised fertility of unf mutants are the result of underlying neural defects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The unfulfilled/DHR51 gene of Drosophila melanogaster modulates wing expansion and fertility

Sung

Wong

Sen

et al. 2008

Developmental Dynamics

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“…To determine whether these mutations give rise to alterations in brain structures, we focused on the ␣ and ␤ lobes of the mushroom bodies and the ellipsoid body of the central complex, because genetic and behavioral studies have shown that the mushroom bodies play a role in experience-dependent learning (36,37) and suppress locomotor activity in Drosophila (38,39), and that the central complex is a key mediator of locomotion (13,40,41). This analysis showed neuroanatomical defects in several of the P-element insertion lines, most commonly shortening of the ␣ lobe of the mushroom body (Sema5c, ttk, HLHm7, lola, neur, and Sema-1a; Fig.…”

Section: Neuroanatomy Of P-element Insertion Lines With Reduced Startmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many mutations associated with reduced startleinduced locomotion affect neurodevelopment. The mushroom bodies have a key role in experience-dependent learning (36,37) and locomotion (38,39). The ellipsoid body and other parts of the central complex are instrumental in directing locomotion (40,41).…”

Section: Epistatic Network Associated With Development Of the Centralmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurogenetic networks for startle-induced locomotion in Drosophila melanogaster

Yamamoto

Zwarts

Callaerts

et al. 2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

105

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Understanding how the genome empowers the nervous system to express behaviors remains a critical challenge in behavioral genetics. The startle response is an attractive behavioral model for studies on the relationship between genes, brain, and behavior, as the ability to respond rapidly to harmful changes in the environment is a universal survival trait. Drosophila melanogaster provides a powerful system in which genetic studies on individuals with controlled genetic backgrounds and reared under controlled environmental conditions can be combined with neuroanatomical studies to analyze behaviors. In a screen of 720 lines of D. melanogaster, carrying single P[GT1] transposon insertions, we found 267 lines that showed significant changes in startle-induced locomotor behavior. Excision of the transposon reversed this effect in five lines out of six tested. We infer that most of the 267 lines show mutant effects on startle-induced locomotion that are caused by the transposon insertions. We selected a subset of 15 insertions in the same genetic background in autosomal genes with strong mutant effects and crossed them to generate all 105 possible nonreciprocal double heterozygotes. These hybrids revealed an extensive network of epistatic interactions on the behavioral trait. In addition, we observed changes in neuroanatomy that were caused by these 15 mutations, individually and in their double heterozygotes. We find that behavioral and neuroanatomical phenotypes are determined by a common set of genes that are organized as partially overlapping genetic networks.behavioral genetics ͉ epistasis ͉ sensorimotor integration ͉ startle behavior ͉ P-element insertional mutagenesis A major goal of behavioral genetics is to understand the relationship between the genome and the nervous system. From a neuroscience perspective, behaviors represent the ultimate expression of the nervous system. From a genetics perspective, behaviors are complex traits for which natural variation is caused by many interacting genetic variants, with allelic effects that depend on social and external environments, sex, and genetic background (1, 2). To date, most studies that have attempted to relate genetic variation to the neural regulation of behavior have adopted a ''one gene at a time'' approach. Such studies have made important contributions and generated significant insights. However, recent genomic approaches, in which candidate genes affecting behaviors are identified by comparing whole-genome expression profiles of genetically divergent strains, have implicated large numbers of coregulated genes affecting behaviors that have pleiotropic effects on other traits, and that would not have been a priori predicted to affect behavior (3-10). In the current study, we used quantitative genetic approaches to analyze the genes-brain-behavior relationship at the level of genetic networks rather than at the level of single genes.We used startle-induced locomotion to a mechanical disturbance in Drosophila melanogaster as a model behavior. Previously, we...

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“…A role for the MBs in the control of arousal has been proposed in the past (32). MBs have an inhibitory effect on locomotor activity but a stimulatory effect toward sleep (33,34).…”

Section: Meth-induced Wakefulness Does Not Involve Modulation Of Dda1mentioning

confidence: 99%

Drosophila D1 dopamine receptor mediates caffeine-induced arousal

Andretic

Kim

Jones

et al. 2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The arousing and motor-activating effects of psychostimulants are mediated by multiple systems. In Drosophila, dopaminergic transmission is involved in mediating the arousing effects of methamphetamine, although the neuronal mechanisms of caffeine (CAFF)-induced wakefulness remain unexplored. Here, we show that in Drosophila, as in mammals, the wake-promoting effect of CAFF involves both the adenosinergic and dopaminergic systems. By measuring behavioral responses in mutant and transgenic flies exposed to different drug-feeding regimens, we show that CAFFinduced wakefulness requires the Drosophila D1 dopamine receptor (dDA1) in the mushroom bodies. In WT flies, CAFF exposure leads to downregulation of dDA1 expression, whereas the transgenic overexpression of dDA1 leads to CAFF resistance. The wakepromoting effects of methamphetamine require a functional dopamine transporter as well as the dDA1, and they engage brain areas in addition to the mushroom bodies.ptimal behavioral performance in humans and animals depends on an adequate arousal level, which often involves diffuse afferent inputs from the dopaminergic system. Caffeine (CAFF) displays strong arousing properties and is the most consumed psychoactive drug in the world. CAFF competitively inhibits adenosine A1 and A2 receptors, antagonizing the effects of the sleep-promoting neuromodulator adenosine that accumulates during waking (1). CAFF also leads to increased dopaminergic and glutamatergic transmission in different striatal subcompartments, which has been linked to its activating and reinforcing effects (2-4).Although CAFF-induced wakefulness has been related to modulation of cholinergic and histaminergic arousal systems (5, 6), CAFF's induction of increased dopaminergic transmission and its effect on wakefulness have not been adequately examined. Animals with increased dopaminergic transmission, such as dopamine transporter (DAT) mutant mice, have decreased non-rapid eye movement sleep and increased sensitivity to the wake-promoting action of CAFF (7). Dopaminergic action on both the D1 and D2 receptors contributes to the alert waking state, based on the action of centrally administered D1 and D2 agonists in rodents (8). Molecularly, CAFF modulates D2 transcription in vitro and in vivo (9). Motor-activating effects of CAFF are diminished in D2R mutant mice (10, 11); however, the role of D2R in the arousing effect of CAFF remains unknown, and functional tests of the brain regions mediating these effects are lacking in mammals.We have shown previously that the wake-promoting effects of methamphetamine (METH) in Drosophila are mediated through dopaminergic transmission, indicating some evolutionary conservation in the behavioral and neurochemical effects of psychostimulants (12).Treatment of flies with CAFF induces wakefulness; however, the mechanism underlying this activity is currently unknown (13,14). In the present study, we investigate the role of dopamine signaling in the wake-inducing properties of CAFF and METH, with emphasis on the role of the Dr...

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Temporal pattern of locomotor activity in Drosophila melanogaster

Cited by 188 publications

References 2 publications

The unfulfilled/DHR51 gene of Drosophila melanogaster modulates wing expansion and fertility

The unfulfilled/DHR51 gene of Drosophila melanogaster modulates wing expansion and fertility

Neurogenetic networks for startle-induced locomotion in Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila D1 dopamine receptor mediates caffeine-induced arousal

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