Taste sensing and sugar detection mechanisms in larval primary taste center.

Despite the small number of gustatory sense neurons, larvae are able to sense a wide range of chemicals. Although evidence for taste multimodality has been provided in single neurons, an overview of gustatory responses at the periphery is missing and hereby we explore whole-organ calcium imaging of the external taste center. We find that neurons can be activated by different combinations of taste modalities, including opposite hedonic valence and identify distinct temporal dynamics of response.

Cellular Basis of Bitter-Driven Aversive Behaviors in Larva.

Feeding, a critical behavior for survival, consists of a complex series of behavioral steps. In larvae, the initial steps of feeding are food choice, during which the quality of a potential food source is judged, and ingestion, during which the selected food source is ingested into the digestive tract. It remains unclear whether these steps employ different mechanisms of neural perception.

Circadian and Genetic Modulation of Visually-Guided Navigation in Drosophila Larvae.

Organisms possess an endogenous molecular clock which enables them to adapt to environmental rhythms and to synchronize their metabolism and behavior accordingly. Circadian rhythms govern daily oscillations in numerous physiological processes, and the underlying molecular components have been extensively described from fruit flies to mammals. Drosophila larvae have relatively simple nervous system compared to their adult counterparts, yet they both share a homologous molecular clock with mammals, governed by interlocking transcriptional feedback loops with highly conserved constituents.

Neuronal microRNAs modulate TREK two-pore domain K channel expression and current density.

The TREK family of leak potassium channels has been found to play critical roles in nociception, sensitivity to general anaesthetics, neuroprotection, and memory. The three members of the family, TREK1, TREK2 and TRAAK establish the resting potential and modify the duration, frequency and amplitude of action potentials. Despite their apparent importance, the repertoire of regulatory interactions utilized by cells to control their expression is poorly understood.

Single cell transcriptome atlas of the larval brain.

Cell diversity of the brain and how it is affected by starvation, remains largely unknown. Here, we introduce a single cell transcriptome atlas of the entire first instar larval brain. We first assigned cell-type identity based on known marker genes, distinguishing five major groups: neural progenitors, differentiated neurons, glia, undifferentiated neurons and non-neural cells.

Regulation of TRPM8 channel activity by Src-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation.

The transient receptor potential melastatin type 8 (TRPM8) receptor channel is expressed in primary afferent neurons where it is the main transducer of innocuous cold temperatures and also in a variety of tumors, where it is involved in progression and metastasis. Modulation of this channel by intracellular signaling pathways has therefore important clinical implications. We investigated the modulation of recombinant and natively expressed TRPM8 by the Src kinase, which is known to be involved in cancer pathophysiology and inflammation.