Rationally subdividing the fly nervous system with versatile expression reagents

The ability to image and manipulate specific cell populations in Drosophila enables the investigation of how neural circuits develop and coordinate appropriate motor behaviors. Gal4 lines give genetic access to many types of neurons, but the expression patterns of these reagents are often complex. Here, we present the generation and expression patterns of LexA lines based on the vesicular neurotransmitter transporters and Hox transcription factors. Intersections between these LexA lines and existing Gal4 collections provide a strategy for rationally subdividing complex expression patterns based on neurotransmitter or segmental identity.