Behavior screen of drosophila mutants showing defects in thermosensation

Abstract

Temperature sensing is one of the most important sensation systems in organisms for survival. Recent publications have shown temperature-activated transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in mammals and Drosophila. These TRP channels can be activated by only temperature, which is distinctive feature from other TRP channel involved in different signaling cascades. In Drosophila, only two temperature-activated TRP channels found recently are not sufficient to elucidate temperature sensation mechanism. To find out thermosensation components, we have screened Drosophila P-insertion lines using adult fly temperature preference assay for several years. Finally, 19 lines that indicated severe abnormal temperature responses and consistent behaviors were selected. Possibly affected genes in these lines were predicted through Genexel mapview3. These data can be helpful to investigate temperature sensing pathway. Thermosensation mutants of Drosophila were also screened to examine the relationship between thermosensation and light-dark cycle. 20 lines have shown different temperature preference between day and night. 2 lines of 20 mutant lines have shown arrhythmic locomotor activity. we could not find relationship between thermosensations and circadian rhythms. Nevertheless, this study supports the possibility that thermosensations are connected to other behavior processes.