Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila
Published on: September 28, 2010
Neuropeptides PDF and DH31 hierarchically regulate free-running rhythmicity in Drosophila circadian locomotor
Tadahiro Goda1, Yujiro Umezaki1, Fay Alwattari1
1Visual Systems Group, Abrahamson Pediatric Eye Institute, Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
Abstract:
Neuropeptides play pivotal roles in modulating circadian rhythms. Pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) is critical to the circadian rhythms in Drosophila locomotor activity. Here, we demonstrate that diuretic hormone 31 (DH31) complements PDF function in regulating free-running rhythmicity using male flies. We determined that Dh31 loss-of-function mutants (Dh31#51) showed normal rhythmicity, whereas Dh31#51;Pdf01 double mutants exhibited a severe arrhythmic phenotype compared to Pdf-null mutants (Pdf01). The expression of tethered-PDF or tethered-DH31 in clock cells, posterior dorsal neurons 1 (DN1ps), overcomes the severe arrhythmicity of Dh31#51;Pdf01 double mutants, suggesting that DH31 and PDF may act on DN1ps to regulate free-running rhythmicity in a hierarchical manner. Unexpectedly, the molecular oscillations in Dh31#51;Pdf01 mutants were similar to those in Pdf01 mutants in DN1ps, indicating that DH31 does not contribute to molecular oscillations. Furthermore, a reduction in Dh31 receptor (Dh31r) expression resulted in normal locomotor activity and did not enhance the arrhythmic phenotype caused by the Pdf receptor (Pdfr) mutation, suggesting that PDFR, but not DH31R, in DN1ps mainly regulates free-running rhythmicity. Taken together, we identify a novel role of DH31, in which DH31 and PDF hierarchically regulate free-running rhythmicity through DN1ps.
Related Concept Videos
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
Wald-Wolfowitz Runs Test II
For binary data, runs are identified using symbols such as + and −, or equivalently, 1s and 0s. In...
Enteric Nervous System: Regulation of GI Motor Activity
During periods of fasting, the ENS initiates the migrating myoelectric complex, a...
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Wald-Wolfowitz Runs Test I
The test works...
GTPases and their Regulation
Large G-proteins,...

