TRPA channels distinguish gravity sensing from hearing in Johnston's organ.
Although many animal species sense gravity for spatial orientation, the molecular bases remain uncertain. Therefore, we studied Drosophila melanogaster, which possess an inherent upward movement against gravity-negative geotaxis. Negative geotaxis requires Johnston's organ, a mechanosensory structure located in the antenna that also detects near-field sound. Because channels of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily can contribute to mechanosensory signaling, we asked whether they are important for negative geotaxis. We identified distinct expression patterns for 5 TRP genes; the TRPV genes nanchung and inactive were present in most Johnston's organ neurons, the TRPN gene nompC and the TRPA gene painless were localized to 2 subpopulations of neurons, and the TRPA gene pyrexia was expressed in cap cells that may interact with the neurons. Likewise, mutating specific TRP genes produced distinct phenotypes, disrupting negative geotaxis (painless and pyrexia), hearing (nompC), or both (nanchung and inactive). Our genetic, physiological and behavioral data indicate that the sensory component of negative geotaxis involves multiple TRP genes. The results also distinguish between different mechanosensory modalities and set the stage for understanding how TRP channels contribute to mechanosensation.
Sun
Yishan
Y
Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Liu
Lei
L
Ben-Shahar
Yehuda
Y
Jacobs
Julie S
JS
Eberl
Daniel F
DF
Welsh
Michael J
MJ
D000825:Animal Structures / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017344:Genes, Insect; D018522:Gravitropism; D018466:Gravity Sensing / Q000502:physiology*; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011187:Posture; D012399:Rotation; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels