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Transmembrane channel-like (tmc) gene regulates Drosophila larval locomotion
ISSN
0027-8424
Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
Guo, Yanmeng
Wang, Y.
Meltzer, Shan
Zanini, Damiano
Yu, Yue
Li, Jiefu
Cheng, Tong
Guo, Zhenhao
Wang, Qingxiu
Jacobs, Julie S.
Sharma, Yashoda
Eberl, Daniel F.
Jan, Lily Yeh
Jan, Yuh Nung
Wang, Z.
DOI
10.1073/pnas.1606537113
Abstract
Drosophila larval locomotion, which entails rhythmic body contractions, is controlled by sensory feedback from proprioceptors. The molecular mechanisms mediating this feedback are little understood. By using genetic knock-in and immunostaining, we found that the Drosophila melanogaster transmembrane channel-like (tmc) gene is expressed in the larval class I and class II dendritic arborization (da) neurons and bipolar dendrite (bd) neurons, both of which are known to provide sensory feedback for larval locomotion. Larvae with knockdown or loss of tmc function displayed reduced crawling speeds, increased head cast frequencies, and enhanced backward locomotion. Expressing Drosophila TMC or mammalian TMC1 and/or TMC2 in the tmc-positive neurons rescued these mutant phenotypes. Bending of the larval body activated the tmc-positive neurons, and in tmc mutants this bending response was impaired. This implicates TMC's roles in Drosophila proprioception and the sensory control of larval locomotion. It also provides evidence for a functional conservation between Drosophila and mammalian TMCs.