rna-interference knockdown of drosophila pigment dispersing factor in neuronal subsets the anatomical basis of a neuropeptides circadian functionsrna干扰击倒的果蝇神经元子集的颜料分散因素神经肽的解剖学基础的生理功能.pdfVIP

RNA-Interference Knockdown of Drosophila Pigment Dispersing Factor in Neuronal Subsets: The Anatomical Basis of a Neuropeptide’s Circadian Functions ¤ Orie T. Shafer *, Paul H. Taghert Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America Abstract Background: In animals, neuropeptide signaling is an important component of circadian timekeeping. The neuropeptide pigment dispersing factor (PDF) is required for several aspects of circadian activity rhythms in Drosophila. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we investigate the anatomical basis for PDF’s various circadian functions by targeted PDF RNA-interference in specific classes of Drosophila neuron. We demonstrate that PDF is required in the ventro- lateral neurons (vLNs) of the central brain and not in the abdominal ganglion for normal activity rhythms. Differential knockdown of PDF in the large or small vLNs indicates that PDF from the small vLNs is likely responsible for the maintenance of free-running activity rhythms and that PDF is not required in the large vLNs for normal behavior. PDF’s role in setting the period of free-running activity rhythms and the proper timing of evening activity under light:dark cycles emanates from both subtypes of vLN, since PDF in either class of vLN was sufficient for these aspects of behavior. Conclusions/Significance: These results reveal the neuroanatomical basis PDF’s various circadian functions and refine our understanding of the clock neuron circuitry of Drosophila. Citation: Shafer OT, Taghert PH (2009) RNA-Interference Knockdown of Drosophila Pigment Dispersing Factor in Neuronal Subsets: The Anatomical Basis of a Neuropeptide’s Circadian Functions. PLoS ONE 4(12): e8298. doi:10.13