Exploratory Activity in Drosophila Requires the kurtz Nonvisual Arrestin

When Drosophila adults are placed into an open field arena, they initially exhibit an elevated level of activity followed by a reduced stable level of spontaneous activity. We have found that the initial elevated component arises from the fly's interaction with the novel arena since: (1) the in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genetics (Austin) 2007-03, Vol.175 (3), p.1197-1212
Main Authors: Liu, L, Davis, R.L, Roman, G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adult insects
Animal behavior
Animals
arrestin
Arrestins - metabolism
central nervous system
Dopamine - metabolism
Drosophila
Drosophila - genetics
Drosophila - physiology
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila Proteins - metabolism
exploratory activity
Exploratory Behavior - physiology
genes
Genetic research
Genotype
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Hybridization
insect behavior
insect proteins
Insects
Investigations
Kinases
kurtz gene
kz gene
mutants
Nervous System - metabolism
open field activity
phenotype
Physical Stimulation
Proteins
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Summary:When Drosophila adults are placed into an open field arena, they initially exhibit an elevated level of activity followed by a reduced stable level of spontaneous activity. We have found that the initial elevated component arises from the fly's interaction with the novel arena since: (1) the increased activity is independent of handling prior to placement within the arena, (2) the fly's elevated activity is proportional to the size of the arena, and (3) the decay in activity to spontaneous levels requires both visual and olfactory input. These data indicate that active exploration is the major component of elevated initial activity. There is a specific requirement for the kurtz nonvisual arrestin in the nervous system for both the exploration stimulated by the novel arena and the mechanically stimulated activity. kurtz is not required for spontaneous activity; kurtz mutants display normal levels of spontaneous activity and average the same velocities as wild-type controls. Inhibition of dopamine signaling has no effect on the elevated initial activity phase in either wild-type or krz(1) mutants. Therefore, the exploratory phase of open field activity requires kurtz in the nervous system, but is independent of dopamine's stimulation of activity.
ISSN:0016-6731
1943-2631
1943-2631
DOI:10.1534/genetics.106.068411