Transmembrane channel-like (tmc) gene regulates Drosophila larval locomotion.
Drosophila larval locomotion, which entails rhythmic body contractions, is controlled by sensory feedback from proprioceptors. The molecular mechanisms mediating this feedback are little understood. By using genetic knock-in and immunostaining, we found that the Drosophila melanogaster transmembrane channel-like (tmc) gene is expressed in the larval class I and class II dendritic arborization (da) neurons and bipolar dendrite (bd) neurons, both of which are known to provide sensory feedback for larval locomotion. Larvae with knockdown or loss of tmc function displayed reduced crawling speeds, increased head cast frequencies, and enhanced backward locomotion. Expressing Drosophila TMC or mammalian TMC1 and/or TMC2 in the tmc-positive neurons rescued these mutant phenotypes. Bending of the larval body activated the tmc-positive neurons, and in tmc mutants this bending response was impaired. This implicates TMC's roles in Drosophila proprioception and the sensory control of larval locomotion. It also provides evidence for a functional conservation between Drosophila and mammalian TMCs.
Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Graduate School of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158;
Yanmeng
Y
Guo
Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Graduate School of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
Yuping
Y
Wang
Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158;
Wei
W
Zhang
Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158;
Shan
S
Meltzer
Department of Cellular Neurobiology, University of Göttingen, 37077 Goettingen, Germany;
Damiano
D
Zanini
College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;
Yue
Y
Yu
Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158;
Jiefu
J
Li
Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158;
Tong
T
Cheng
Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158;
Zhenhao
Z
Guo
Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China;
Qingxiu
Q
Wang
Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242.
Julie S
JS
Jacobs
Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242.
Yashoda
Y
Sharma
Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242.
Daniel F
DF
Eberl
Department of Cellular Neurobiology, University of Göttingen, 37077 Goettingen, Germany;
Martin C
MC
Göpfert
Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158;
Lily Yeh
LY
Jan
Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Department of Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158; yuhnung.jan@ucsf.edu zuorenwang@ion.ac.cn.
Yuh Nung
YN
Jan
Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; yuhnung.jan@ucsf.edu zuorenwang@ion.ac.cn.
Zuoren
Z
Wang
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002460:Cell Line; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins
locomotion; mechanosensation; proprioception