Identification of fast neurotransmitter(s) in the central pacemaker of the Drosophila brain

LIA FRENKEL; MARÍA FERNANDA CERIANI

Huerta Grande, Córdoba

Congreso; XXVI Congreso Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencia; 2011

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencia

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-520092929 1073786111 9 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:ES-AR; mso-fareast-language:ES-AR;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-ansi-language:ES-AR; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} @page WordSection1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> The circadian clock is a temporal filter. Based on self-sustaining transcriptional negative feedback loops, it ultimately gives rise to circadian rhythms. Molecular oscillators are hierarchically organized as pacemakers and slaves. Circadian control of clock outputs ranges from the most immediate ones within pacemaker neurons to behaviors. In the Drosophila adult brain, the small ventral lateral neurons (sLNvs) constitute the central pacemaker. It comprises five cells, of which four rhythmically release the neuropeptide pigment dispersing factor (PDF). PDF triggers specific (i.e., resetting) signaling events in downstream targets. Aside from the PDF- containing dense core vesicles, the presence of small clear vesicles near synaptic output sites in the axonal terminals of the sLNvs suggests that additional fast neurotransmitter(s) (NT) could take part in this process. Still, there is no candidate NT in the sLNv cells as they are not immunoreactive either to several biogenic amines or to GABA. The goal of this work (which is still in progress) is to evidence the nature of this NT by downregulating the expression of NT re-uptakers in the PDF+ neurons and screening for changes in two clock outputs: daily structural remodelling of PDF axonal projections and rhythmic locomotor activity.