EFFICACY OF SPECIFIC GAL4 NEURAL CIRCUITS IN DETERMINING COLD NOCICEPTION IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER LARVAE

Efficacy of Specific Gal4 Neural Circuits in Determining Cold Nociception in Drosophila melanogaster Larvae

Tashae Dewalt, Trang Vo, Gabriele McBean 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sarah Clark

We explore neuronal populations in Drosophila melanogaster to identify specific groups of neurons involved in cold nociceptive behavior. It has been shown that Class III (C3) sensory neurons are the primary noxious cold-sensing neurons in Drosophila melanogaster. Our experiment investigates the interneuron populations that may be involved in cold nociception, which we assess using optogenetics and cold plate behavioral assays. With optogenetics activation of these neurons, we aim to determine whether these populations are sufficient to cause 3rd instar larvae to exhibit cold nocifensive behavior. To determine the necessity of the neural populations, we use tetanus toxin (TnT) to silence their activity and a cold plate assay to measure the behavioral response to painful cold temperatures (6℃). From these assays, we can conclude whether the neuronal populations identified by the GAL4 drivers GMR48G06 and GMR69G08 are necessary, sufficient, or insignificant for cold nociceptive behavior. Through these experiments, we will develop a more thorough understanding of the neural populations that are important for cold nociception. We aim to plant a seed for others in the scientific community to further explore the fact that there are multiple classes of neurons involved in one action.