The Drosophila melanogaster circadian pacemaker circuit.
As an experimental model system, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been seminal in shaping our understanding of the circadian clockwork. The wealth of genetic tools at our disposal over the past four decades has enabled discovery of the genetic and molecular bases of circadian rhythmicity. More recently, detailed investigation leading to the anatomical, neurochemical and electrophysiological characterization of the various neuronal subgroups that comprise the circadian machinery has revealed pathways through which these neurons come together to act as a neuronal circuit. Thus the D. melanogaster circadian pacemaker circuit presents a relatively simple and attractive model for the study of neuronal circuits and their functions.
Sheeba
Vasu
V
Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research, Bengaluru 560 080, India. sheebavasu@gmail.com
D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents