Electrophysiological analysis of clock neurons in Drosophila melanogaster

MURARO NI; CERIANI MF

Huerta Grande

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

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencia

The rotation of our planet generates cyclic environmental conditions to which organisms have adapted by developing an endogenous clock. This allows them to anticipate the daily changes in light and temperature to adjust their behaviors and physiology accordingly. These circadian rhythms have been extensively studied in the fruit fly where many clock genes that interlock through negative feedback loops and generate daily oscillations have been described. Clock genes are expressed in approximately 150 clock neurons of which a particular subset, the pigment dispersing factor expressing lateral neurons have been found to play a central role.     Although the mechanisms that generate the molecular clock have been studied for decades, it is the electrical properties of neurons what dictates their role within a circuit. These properties depend on the type and quantity of ion channels. The recent development of brain preparations to perform recordings of lateral neurons is starting to close a gap between the molecular and the electrophysiological properties of clock neurons. We will present preliminary electrophysiological data that reveals novel inputs to lateral neurons together with initial results of an ion channel RNA interference screen that impacts on circadian locomotor behavior.