Control of thermotactic behavior  via coupling of a TRP channel  to a phospholipase C  signaling cascade.
In animals such as the fruitfly, even minor deviations in environmental temperature can have major impacts on development and lifespan. Here we demonstrated that the ability of Drosophila melanogaster larvae to discriminate between the optimal temperature of 18 degrees C and slightly higher temperatures (19-24 degrees C) depended on the TRPA1 channel, which functioned downstream of a phospholipase C-dependent signaling cascade similar to that used in fly phototransduction. We propose that activation of TRPA1 through a signaling cascade promotes amplification of small differences in temperature and facilitates adaptation to temperatures within the comfortable range.
Kwon
Young
Y
Departments of Biological Chemistry and Neuroscience, Center for Sensory Biology, 855 North Wolfe Street, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Shim
Hye-Seok
HS
Wang
Xiaoyue
X
Montell
Craig
C
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007473:Ion Channels; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016296:Mutagenesis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000074025:TRPA1 Cation Channel; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D000074025:TRPA1 Cation Channel; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels; C475684:TrpA1 protein, Drosophila; D010738:Type C Phospholipases