A toolbox for light control of Drosophila behaviors through Channelrhodopsin 2-mediated photoactivation of targeted neurons.
In order to study the function of specific neural circuits, we generated UAS-Channelrhodopsin2 (ChR2) transgenic Drosophila and established a ChR2-based system that enables specific activation of targeted neurons in larval and adult fruit flies with blue light illumination, under the control of a newly designed light source that provides fully programmable stimulation patterns. We showed that stimulating selectively the nociceptor of larvae expressing ChR2 elicited light-induced 'pain' response, confined freely behaving larvae in defined area and directed larva migration along a preset route. In freely behaving adult flies, rapid photoactivation of targeted gustatory sensory neurons, dopaminergic modulatory neurons and motor neurons triggered the proboscis extension response, escaping reflex and changes in the locomotion pattern, respectively, with precise temporal control. This non-invasive method for remote control of animal behaviors also provides a potential tool for conducting 'gain of function' studies toward understanding how animal behaviors are controlled by neural activity.
Zhang
Wei
W
Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
Ge
Wooping
W
Wang
Zuoren
Z
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018390:Gene Targeting; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D009420:Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D012018:Reflex / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D025603:Sensory Rhodopsins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D025603:Sensory Rhodopsins; D004298:Dopamine