Visualization of the pheromone neural circuits using a novel neural activity-induced gene in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, and fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a popular model to investigate fundamental principles of neural circuit operation. The sophisticated genetics and small brain permit a cellular resolution understanding of innate and learned behavioural processes. Relatively recent genetic and technical advances provide the means to specifically and reproducibly manipulate the function of many fly neurons with temporal resolution. The same cellular precision can also be exploited to express genetically encoded reporters of neural activity and cell-signalling pathways. Combining these approaches in living behaving animals has great potential to generate a holistic view of behavioural control that transcends the usual molecular, cellular and systems boundaries. In this review, we discuss these approaches with particular emphasis on the pioneering studies and those involving learning and memory.

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A Dense Genetic Map of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori, Covering All Chromosomes Based on 1018 Molecular Markers

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/150.4.1513 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 150 (4) ◽

pp. 1513-1525 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yuji Yasukochi

Keyword(s):

Drosophila Melanogaster ◽

Molecular Markers ◽

Linkage Map ◽

Bombyx Mori ◽

Genetic Markers ◽

Genetic Map ◽

Z Chromosome ◽

Linkage Groups ◽

Average Interval ◽

Silkworm Bombyx Mori

Abstract A dense linkage map was constructed for the silkworm, Bombyx mori, containing 1018 genetic markers on all 27 autosomes and the Z chromosome. Most of the markers, covering ∼2000 cM, were randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs amplified with primer-pairs in combinations of 140 commercially available decanucleotides. In addition, eight known genes and five visible mutations were mapped. Bombyx homologues of engrailed and invected genes were found to be closely linked, as in Drosophila melanogaster. The average interval between markers was ∼2 cM, equal to ∼500 kb. The correspondence of seven linkage groups to counterparts of the conventional linkage map was determined. This map is the first linkage map in insects having a large number of chromosomes (n = 28) that covers all chromosomes without any gaps.

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Targeted manipulation of neuronal activity in behaving adult flies

10.7287/peerj.preprints.2354v2 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Stefanie Hampel ◽

Andrew Michael Seeds

Keyword(s):

Drosophila Melanogaster ◽

Neuronal Activity ◽

Neural Circuits ◽

Neural Circuit ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Specific Behavior ◽

Freely Behaving ◽

The Rich ◽

Circuit Function

The ability to control the activity of specific neurons in freely behaving animals provides an effective way to probe the contributions of neural circuits to behavior. Wide interest in studying principles of neural circuit function using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has fueled the construction of an extensive transgenic toolkit for performing such neural manipulations. Here we describe approaches for using these tools to manipulate the activity of specific neurons and assess how those manipulations impact the behavior of flies. We also describe methods for examining connectivity among multiple neurons that together form a neural circuit controlling a specific behavior. This work provides a resource for researchers interested in examining how neurons and neural circuits contribute to the rich repertoire of behaviors performed by flies.

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Using chimeric piggyBac transposase to achieve directed interplasmid transposition in silkworm Bombyx mori and fruit fly Drosophila cells

Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B ◽

10.1631/jzus.b1000139 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 728-734 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Na Wang ◽

Cai-ying Jiang ◽

Ming-xing Jiang ◽

Chuan-xi Zhang ◽

Jia-an Cheng

Keyword(s):

Bombyx Mori ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Drosophila Cells ◽

Silkworm Bombyx Mori

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Targeted manipulation of neuronal activity in behaving adult flies

10.7287/peerj.preprints.2354v1 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Stefanie Hampel ◽

Andrew Michael Seeds

Keyword(s):

Drosophila Melanogaster ◽

Neuronal Activity ◽

Neural Circuits ◽

Neural Circuit ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Specific Behavior ◽

Freely Behaving ◽

The Rich ◽

Circuit Function

The ability to control the activity of specific neurons in freely behaving animals provides an effective way to probe the contributions of neural circuits to behavior. Wide interest in studying principles of neural circuit function using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has fueled the construction of an extensive transgenic toolkit for performing such neural manipulations. Here we describe approaches for using these tools to manipulate the activity of specific neurons and assess how those manipulations impact the behavior of flies. We also describe methods for examining connectivity among multiple neurons that together form a neural circuit controlling a specific behavior. This work provides a resource for researchers interested in examining how neurons and neural circuits contribute to the rich repertoire of behaviors performed by flies.

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A Lipase Isolated from the Silkworm Bombyx mori Shows Antiviral Activity against Nucleopolyhedrovirus

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.77.19.10725-10729.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 77 (19) ◽

pp. 10725-10729 ◽

Cited By ~ 133

Author(s):

Kangayam M. Ponnuvel ◽

Hiroshi Nakazawa ◽

Seiichi Furukawa ◽

Ai Asaoka ◽

Jun Ishibashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drosophila Melanogaster ◽

Antiviral Activity ◽

Bombyx Mori ◽

Northern Blot Analysis ◽

Digestive Enzyme ◽

Homology Search ◽

Digestive Juice ◽

Strong Antiviral Activity ◽

Silkworm Bombyx Mori

ABSTRACT A protein showing strong antiviral activity against Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) was purified from the digestive juice of B. mori larvae. A homology search of the deduced amino acid sequence of the protein cDNA revealed 56% homology with Drosophila melanogaster lipase and 21% homology with human lipase. As lipase activity of the protein was confirmed in vitro, this protein was designated Bmlipase-1. Northern blot analysis showed that the Bmlipase-1 gene is expressed in the midgut but not in other tissues, nor is it activated by BmNPV infection. In addition, the Bmlipase-1 gene was shown not to be expressed in the molting and wandering stages, indicating that the gene is hormonally regulated. Our results suggest that an insect digestive enzyme has potential as a physiological barrier against BmNPV at the initial site of viral infection.

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Targeted manipulation of neuronal activity in behaving adult flies

10.7287/peerj.preprints.2354 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Stefanie Hampel ◽

Andrew Michael Seeds

Keyword(s):

Drosophila Melanogaster ◽

Neuronal Activity ◽

Neural Circuits ◽

Neural Circuit ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Specific Behavior ◽

Freely Behaving ◽

The Rich ◽

Circuit Function

The ability to control the activity of specific neurons in freely behaving animals provides an effective way to probe the contributions of neural circuits to behavior. Wide interest in studying principles of neural circuit function using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has fueled the construction of an extensive transgenic toolkit for performing such neural manipulations. Here we describe approaches for using these tools to manipulate the activity of specific neurons and assess how those manipulations impact the behavior of flies. We also describe methods for examining connectivity among multiple neurons that together form a neural circuit controlling a specific behavior. This work provides a resource for researchers interested in examining how neurons and neural circuits contribute to the rich repertoire of behaviors performed by flies.

Download Full-text