Piezo-like Gene Regulates Locomotion in Drosophila Larvae

摘要

To maintain proper locomotive patterns, animalsconstantly monitor body posture with their proprioceptivereceptors. In Drosophila, the chordotonal organs(Cho) are especially important in the regulationof locomotion pattern. However, how Cho neuronsthat are normally activated with sound (vibration)transduce static displacement caused by body positionchange remains unclear. Here, we report thatpiezo-like (pzl), a homolog for mammalian piezo1and 2, is essential for Cho’s function in locomotion.The mutant allele of pzl showed severe defects incrawling pattern and body gesture control, whichwere rescued by expressing Pzl specifically in Choneurons. The ability of Cho neurons to respond tomicrometer-scale body wall displacement requirespzl. Intriguingly, human or mouse Piezo1 can rescuepzl-mutant phenotypes, suggesting a conserved roleof the Piezo-family proteins in locomotion.