Drosophila Model for Teaching Purpose
Synaptic plasticity is a major component of development, learning and memory. Recent studies have begun to use optogenetics to solve the problems of synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity.
Drosophila is a classic genetic model organism, which combines ease of use, cost-effectiveness and unparalleled versatility in demonstrating behavior and neuronal physiology. The use of light to remotely control neuronal activity enables researchers to access specific, transcriptionally defined neural circuits at an unprecedented level, even in animals with complete and free behavior. The recent optogenetic revolution has changed the landscape of neuroscience research. Drosophila is a heritable model system, which combines the complexity, ease of use and high research correlation of behavior and neurophysiology.
Creative BioMart has established a variety of Drosophila models by expressing Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) protein in different positions of Drosophila. Under the stimulation of different wavelengths of light, these fruit flies will show different behaviors, such as escape, regression, epilepsy and so on. These strains of Drosophila can be used for teaching purposes as model organisms to demonstrate the optogenetic control of neural circuits. In addition to teaching purposes, the technology can also be used as a basis for the study of neurophysiology and behavior.
| Tigger condition |
Drosophila morphology |
Strain behavior |
Channelrhodopsin Location |
| 620 nm red light |
Larvae |
Escape rolling |
Peripheral sensory neurons |
| 620 nm red light |
Larvae |
Escape rolling |
Sensory domain of ventral nerve cord of larva |
| 620 nm red light |
Adult |
Escape response |
Giant fiber neural network |
| 620 nm red light |
Adult |
Jumping |
Subsets of cells in the brain and ventral nerve cord |
| 620 nm red light |
Adult |
Backward walking |
Cell subsets in the brain and ventral nerve cord |
| 460 nm blue light |
From embryonic stage 15 to adult |
Seizure |
Motor neurons of the ventral ganglion. |
| 460 nm blue light |
From embryonic stage 15 to adult |
Seizure |
Glutamatergic neurons including ventral ganglion motor neurons |
Technology Principles
In Drosophila, transgene can accurately control expression by using the binary system GAL4 / UAS, which uses the tissue-specific expression of yeast transcription activator (Gal4) to drive the expression of genes controlled by Gal4 upstream activation sequence. Gal4 and UAS lines can be mixed and matched to express almost any gene in a variety of patterns. In this case, ChR2 protein is expressed in adult neuronal circuits to trigger behavioral responses and trigger action potentials of larval motor neurons. By expressing the two halves of the protein with different promoters, the GAL4 system can also be further improved. Only crossed cells contain functional Gal4, which further limits the activation of neurons.
Application of the Drosophila Strains
- Adult behavior investigation
- Larval electrophysiology investigation
- Behavioral responses to optogenetic stimulation
- Electrophysiological responses to optogenetic stimulation
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