The mechanisms by which circadian pacemaker systems transmit timing information to control behavior are largely unknown. Here, we define two critical features of that mechanism in Drosophila. We first describe animals mutant for the pdf neuropeptide gene, which is expressed by most of the candidate pacemakers (LNv neurons). Next, we describe animals in which pdf neurons were selectively ablated. Both sets of animals produced similar behavioral phenotypes. Both sets entrained to light, but both were largely arrhythmic under constant conditions. A minority of each pdf variant exhibited weak to moderate free-running rhythmicity. These results confirm the assignment of LNv neurons as the principal circadian pacemakers controlling daily locomotion in Drosophila. They also implicate PDF as the principal circadian transmitter.
Pubmed ID: 10619432 RIS Download
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Image processing software used to modify and clarify sample images for FluoView FV1000 range of confocal laser scanning microscopes and Fluoview FV1000MPE multiphoton excitation systems. The software incorporates high-dynamic-range imaging, minimized signal-to-noise ratios, partial stitching with multiarea time-lapse imaging, and channel unmixing. The software also allows users to select specific areas of the whole sample, which can stitched together.
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