Direction Selectivity in Drosophila Proprioceptors Requires the Mechanosensory Channel Tmc

Abstract

Highlights d Three-dimensional morphologies of proprioceptive dendrites during movement are described d Drosophila larval proprioceptive neurons are tuned to direction of locomotion d ddaE responds to forward locomotion while ddaD responds to backward locomotion d Tmc channels are required for sensing movement direction

Characterization of Proprioceptive System Dynamics in Behaving Drosophila Larvae Using High-Speed Volumetric Microscopy

“…Imaging revealed 3D distortion of proprioceptive dendrites during movement and GCaMP activity that occurred coincident with dendritic deformations. We note that our results are consistent with a complementary study by He et al, published in this issue of Current Biology, which examined ddaD and ddaE dorsal proprioceptors and also demonstrated increased activity during dendrite folding [24]. Their study elucidated that this deformation-dependent signaling is reliant on the mechanosensory channel TMC.…”

Low FoxO expression inDrosophilasomatosensory neurons protects dendrite growth under nutrient restriction

“…This distinction may be related to their arbor growth mechanisms and neuronal functions. As proprioceptive neurons that detect body surface folds during locomotion (He et al, 2019; Vaadia et al, 2019), C1da neurons have simple arbors covering defined territories on the larval body wall. Their dendritic arbors grow mainly by expanding the shafts of the dendritic branches established during embryogenesis.…”

Achieving functional neuronal dendrite structure through sequential stochastic growth and retraction

“…To attain an integrative view of dendrite functional assembly we decided to analyse a genetically tractable animal model, such as Drosophila, with existing comprehensive research in the fields of dendrite development, structure and function. Extensive investigations in the emergence of dendritic morphology (Jan and Jan, 2010;Akin et al, 2019;Allen et al, 2006;Kohl et al, 2013;Lawrence Zipursky and Grueber, 2013;Ganguly et al, 2016) and on the specific impact of dendritic morphology on computation (Dewell and Gabbiani, 2017;Single and Borst, 1998;Gabbiani et al, 2002;Cuntz et al, 2003;He et al, 2019) make insects notably favorable to study mechanisms of development of dendrite form and function.…”

“…Refining dendrite function during development Castro et al of mechanogated ion channels depends on the curvature of individual dendritic branches (He et al, 2019). However, it remains unclear whether c1da dendritic branches are spatially arranged to maximise mechanical cue transduction through curvature.…”