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Temperature sensation in Drosophila.

Belinda Barbagallo1, Paul A Garrity1

  • 1National Center for Behavioral Genomics and Volen Center for Complex Systems, Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02458, United States.

Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|January 24, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Fruit flies use diverse thermosensory molecules, including TRP channels and gustatory receptors, to sense temperature and regulate behavior. These mechanisms help them maintain optimal body temperatures for survival and reproduction.

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Area of Science:

  • Zoology
  • Neurobiology
  • Sensory Biology

Background:

  • Thermoregulation is crucial for animal survival, growth, and reproduction.
  • Small animals like Drosophila melanogaster face challenges in maintaining stable body temperatures due to environmental fluctuations.
  • Understanding thermosensation mechanisms is key to explaining animal behavior and adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize the molecular components underlying thermosensory perception in Drosophila melanogaster.
  • To investigate the roles of specific molecules, such as TRP channels and gustatory receptors, in fly thermoregulation.
  • To explore the neural pathways and behavioral outputs associated with thermosensory responses in flies.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing genetic and molecular techniques to study thermosensory pathways in Drosophila.

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  • Employing electrophysiology and behavioral assays to assess thermosensory responses.
  • Investigating the function of TRP channels (TRPA1, Painless) and Gustatory Receptor Gr28b in thermosensation.

    • Main Results:

    • Identified key thermosensory molecules in Drosophila, including TRP channels and the gustatory receptor Gr28b.
    • Demonstrated that these molecules function in distinct thermosensory neurons to mediate temperature perception.
    • Provided evidence for the involvement of the phototransduction cascade in thermosensory responses.
    • Observed that flies exhibit complex and highly thermosensitive behaviors regulated by these molecular players.

    Conclusions:

    • Drosophila melanogaster possesses a sophisticated and multi-component thermosensory system.
    • A diverse set of molecules, including TRP channels and gustatory receptors, are essential for fly thermoregulation and behavior.
    • The study highlights the intricate interplay between sensory modalities and the neural basis of thermosensitive behaviors.