Premium
A new role for thermosensors in Drosophila melanogaster
Author(s) -
Marquez Gonzalez Keishla M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.869.1
Subject(s) - drosophila melanogaster , thermoreceptor , biology , drosophila (subgenus) , microbiology and biotechnology , mutant , receptor , neuroscience , melanogaster , genetics , gene
Temperature is a universal parameter experienced by all animals that can have dramatic effects on the biochemical functions of cells. In Drosophila melanogaster, neuronal receptors of temperature are well known to control behavioral avoidance of thermal extremes. However, whether they have additional roles in helping animals cope with sub‐optimal temperatures is unknown. Preliminary work from Garrity Lab has shown that mutant animals lacking (neuronally‐expressed warmth receptors, Gr28b and TrpA1), become immobilized at normally innocuously warm temperatures (~34°C), suggesting that these thermoreceptors may also play a role in heat tolerance in Drosophila. Based on this model, I focused on identifying the neural circuit that sends thermosensory information to the brain to mediate heat tolerance. Using genetic techniques, I have silenced downstream projection neurons and neuropeptide‐expressing cells and assessed heat tolerance in the resulting animals. The results of this study will lend insight into the cellular and molecular basis of heat tolerance.