Meeting Abstract
Sensory-motor integration is important for coordinating behaviors like walking and flying. In the larvae of Drosophila melanogaster , neurons expressing the gene Even-skipped receive mechanosensory and proprioceptive input, and are necessary for coordinating muscle contractions. When these neurons are ablated by expression of the apoptotic transgene Reaper, larval crawling becomes uncoordinated. The function of these neurons is unknown in adults, but anatomical evidence suggests that Even-skipped neurons receive input from the halteres, the flies’ gyroscopic reduced hindwings. We hypothesized that Even-skipped neurons receive critical sensory input from halteres, which help transmit signals to the wings and head to function properly. To test this hypothesis, we compared the behavior of intact wild-type flies, flies with mechanically ablated halteres, and flies expressing Reaper in the Even-skipped neurons. We tested adult flies performing three different behaviors: free take-off, tethered flight, and tethered flight with imposed body rotations. We observed body position, wing amplitudes, and head positions during these behaviors. Flies expressing Reaper in the Even-skipped neurons behaved similarly to flies with mechanically-ablated halteres, and both of these groups performed significantly differently from wild-type flies. These behavioral results are consistent with the hypothesis that Even-skipped neurons provide essential sensory input via the halteres.
