title: The Drosophila ortholog of vertebrate TRPA1 regulates thermotaxis.
abstract: Thermotaxis is important for animal survival, but the molecular identities of temperature sensors controlling this behavior have not been determined. We demonstrate dTRPA1, a heat-activated Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) family ion channel, is essential for thermotaxis in Drosophila. dTrpA1 knockdown eliminates avoidance of elevated temperatures along a thermal gradient. We observe dTRPA1 expression in cells without previously ascribed roles in thermosensation and implicate dTRPA1-expressing neurons in mediating thermotaxis. Our data suggest that thermotaxis relies upon neurons and molecules distinct from those required for high-temperature nociception. We propose dTRPA1 may control thermotaxis by sensing environmental temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenzweig
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Tayler
authors.forename: Paul O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Phelps
authors.forename: Ardem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patapoutian
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Garrity
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels