Identification and Function of Thermosensory Neurons in Drosophila Larvae

Authors

Lei Liu, University of Iowa
Elena Petroff, Montclair State UniversityFollow
Wayne A. Johnson, University of Iowa
Francois M. Abboud, University of IowaFollow
Michael J. Welsh, University of IowaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2003

Journal / Book Title

Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

Although the ability to sense temperature is critical for many organisms, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Using the calcium reporter yellow cameleon 2.1 and electrophysiological recordings, we identified thermosensitive neurons and examined their physiologic response in Drosophila melanogaster larvae. In the head, terminal sensory organ neurons showed increased activity in response to cooling by ≤ 1 °C, heating reduced their basal activity, and different units showed distinct response patterns. Neither cooling nor heating affected dorsal organ neurons. Body wall neurons showed a variety of distinct response patterns to both heating and cooling; the diverse thermal responses were strikingly similar to those described in mammals. These data establish a functional map of thermoresponsive neurons in Drosophila larvae and provide a foundation for understanding mechanisms of thermoreception in both insects and mammals.

DOI

10.1038/nn1009

Montclair State University Digital Commons Citation

Liu, Lei; Petroff, Elena; Johnson, Wayne A.; Abboud, Francois M.; and Welsh, Michael J., "Identification and Function of Thermosensory Neurons in Drosophila Larvae" (2003). Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 42.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/biology-facpubs/42

Published Citation

Liu, L., Yermolaieva, O., Johnson, W. et al. Identification and function of thermosensory neurons in Drosophila larvae. Nat Neurosci 6, 267–273 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1009