PDF-modulated visual inputs and cryptochrome define diurnal behavior in Drosophila.
Morning and evening circadian oscillators control the bimodal activity of Drosophila in light-dark cycles. The lateral neurons evening oscillator (LN-EO) is important for promoting diurnal activity at dusk. We found that the LN-EO autonomously synchronized to light-dark cycles through either the cryptochrome (CRY) that it expressed or the visual system. In conditions in which CRY was not activated, flies depleted for pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) or its receptor lost the evening activity and displayed reversed PER oscillations in the LN-EO. Rescue experiments indicated that normal PER cycling and the presence of evening activity relied on PDF secretion from the large ventral lateral neurons and PDF receptor function in the LN-EO. The LN-EO thus integrates light inputs and PDF signaling to control Drosophila diurnal behavior, revealing a new clock-independent function for PDF.
Cusumano
Paola
P
Institut de Neurobiologie Alfred Fessard, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (UPR 2216), Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Klarsfeld
André
A
Chélot
Elisabeth
E
Picot
Marie
M
Richier
Benjamin
B
Rouyer
François
F
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D056931:Cryptochromes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology*
D056931:Cryptochromes; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; C113883:pdf protein, Drosophila; C400531:pigment epithelium-derived factor receptor