GAL4-UAS System for Drosophila
Optogenetic refers to the technology used to control cells in organisms with light. The main photogenetic tool currently used uses photoactivated channel bacteriocin from green algae to activate neurons. By expressing channelrhodopsin in neuronal subsets, people can open Channelrhodopsin and activate nerves by irradiating light with a specific wavelength (the wavelength depends on the Channelrhodopsin used).
In Drosophila, Gal4/UAS system is widely used for artificial gene expression. Creative BioMart uses GAL4/UAS system to centrally express Channelrhodopsin in neurons of larvae or adult Drosophila, so that Drosophila can be applied to optogenetic research.
Each project will be designed, implemented and supervised by postdoctoral scientists to ensure the quality and reliability of the whole experimental process. Just let us know the information of the gene and how you want to edit it. Creative BioMart will propose the best strategy and complete the remaining steps for our customers.
Technology Principles
Yeast transcription factor Gal4 binds to a DNA sequence called upstream activation sequence (UAS) and drives the expression of UAS downstream genes. Using this mechanism, gene expression can be induced in specific cells of Drosophila melanogaster. The GAL4 / UAS system was used to express the channelrhodopsin in the neuronal subsets of larvae or adult Drosophila. By irradiating intense red (625 nm) or blue (460 nm) light on adults (or appropriate larvae), Channelrhodopsin proteins are opened, and neurons expressing these proteins are depolarized and activated, resulting in specific behavior.
Available Services and Strains at Creative BioMart
We used the GAL4 / UAS system to centrally express the channelrhodopsin in the neuronal subsets of larvae or adult fruit flies. By hybridizing motoneurons and UAS with Gal4 and ChR2, animals expressing ChR2 in motoneurons can be obtained. When adults (or appropriate larvae) are irradiated with strong red or blue light, Channelrhodopsin proteins are opened, and neurons expressing these proteins are depolarized and activated, resulting in specific behavior.
At present, we have successfully constructed several Drosophila models, which can produce the following behaviors under the stimulation of red or blue light
| 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 |
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