Picao-Osorio, Joao, Johnston, Jamie, Landgraf, Matthias, Berni, Jimena and Alonso, Claudio R (2015) MicroRNA-encoded behavior in Drosophila. Science, 350 (6262). pp. 815-820. ISSN 0036-8075

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Abstract

The relationship between microRNA (miRNA) regulation and the specification of behavior is only beginning to be explored. We found that mutation of a single miRNA locus (miR-iab4/iab8) in Drosophila larvae affects the animal’s capacity to correct its orientation if turned upside down (self-righting). One of the miRNA targets involved in this behavior is the Hox gene Ultrabithorax, whose derepression in two metameric neurons leads to self-righting defects. In vivo neural activity analysis reveals that these neurons, the self-righting node (SRN), have different activity patterns in wild type and miRNA mutants, whereas thermogenetic manipulation of SRN activity results in changes in self-righting behavior. Our work thus reveals a miRNA-encoded behavior and suggests that other miRNAs might also be involved in behavioral control in Drosophila and other species.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of Life Sciences > Neuroscience
Related URLs:	Publisher Author
Depositing User:	Claudio Alonso
Date Deposited:	15 Jan 2016 12:20
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2019 22:47
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/59175

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