Moonlight detection by Drosophila's endogenous clock depends on multiple photopigments in the compound eyes

• Published in: Journal of biological rhythms Vol. 29; no. 2; p. 75
• Main Authors: Schlichting, Matthias, Grebler, Rudi, Peschel, Nicolai, Yoshii, Taishi, Helfrich-Förster, Charlotte
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Biological Clocks - physiology; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Drosophila melanogaster - metabolism; Drosophila melanogaster - physiology; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Eye - cytology; Eye - metabolism; Eye - radiation effects; Immunohistochemistry; Light; Microscopy, Confocal; Moon; Motor Activity - physiology; Mutation; Ocular Physiological Phenomena - radiation effects; Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate - metabolism; Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate - physiology; Rhodopsin - genetics; Rhodopsin - metabolism; masking; rhodopsins; circadian clock; entrainment

Many organisms change their activity on moonlit nights. Even the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster responds to moonlight with a shift of activity into the night, at least under laboratory conditions. The compound eyes have been shown to be essential for the perception of moonlight, but it is unknown...