Manipulation of an innate escape response in Drosophila: photoexcitation of acj6 neurons induces the escape response

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 4; no. 4; p. e5100
• Main Authors: Zimmermann, Gregor, Wang, Li-Ping, Vaughan, Alexander G, Manoli, Devanand S, Zhang, Feng, Deisseroth, Karl, Baker, Bruce S, Scott, Matthew P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 02.04.2009; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acj6 protein; Analysis; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Base Sequence; Behavior; Behavior, Animal; Bioengineering; Chemoreception; Circuits; Departments; Developmental biology; DNA Primers; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila melanogaster - physiology; Genes; Genetic analysis; Genetic aspects; Genetic engineering; Insects; Laboratories; Light; Mutation; Neural networks; Neurobiology; Neurons; Neurons - physiology; Neurophysiology; Neuroscience; Neuroscience/Behavioral Neuroscience; Neuroscience/Sensory Systems; Neurosciences; Photoexcitation; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Proteins; Psychiatry; Reflex, Startle; Startle response; Studies; Tetanus; California
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005100

The genetic analysis of behavior in Drosophila melanogaster has linked genes controlling neuronal connectivity and physiology to specific neuronal circuits underlying a variety of innate behaviors. We investigated the circuitry underlying the adult startle response, using photoexcitation of neurons that produce the abnormal chemosensory jump 6 (acj6) transcription factor. This transcription factor has previously been shown to play a role in neuronal pathfinding and neurotransmitter modality, but the role of acj6 neurons in the adult startle response was largely unknown. We show that the activity of these neurons is necessary for a wild-type startle response and that excitation is sufficient to generate a synthetic escape response. Further, we show that this synthetic response is still sensitive to the dose of acj6 suggesting that that acj6 mutation alters neuronal activity as well as connectivity and neurotransmitter production. These results extend the understanding of the role of acj6 and of the adult startle response in general. They also demonstrate the usefulness of activity-dependent characterization of neuronal circuits underlying innate behaviors in Drosophila, and the utility of integrating genetic analysis into modern circuit analysis techniques.