<p>From insects to mammals, the ability to constantly sense environmental stimuli is essential for the survival of most living organisms. Most animals have nocifensive behaviors towards extreme temperatures, mechanical stimuli or irritant chemicals that are considered to be noxious. Nociception is defined as the neural encoding and processing of noxious stimuli. This process starts from the activation of pain detecting peripheral sensory neurons (nociceptors) that can detect noxious mechanical, thermal or chemical stimuli. On the other hand, animals also have the ability to discriminate innocuous temperatures and to direct their locomotions to their favorable environmental temperatures and this behavior is called thermotaxis. </p><p>In this study, I used <italic>Drosophila melanogaster</italic>as a genetic model organism to study the molecular and cellular basis of nociception and thermotaxis. <italic>Drosophila</italic> larvae exhibit a stereotyped defensive behavior in response to nociceptive stimuli (termed nocifensive escape locomotion behavior, NEL). Using this behavior as a readout, we manipulated the neuronal activities of periphery sensory Type II multidendritic neurons and have identified a specific class of neurons, class IV multidendritic neurons, to function as nociceptors in <italic>Drosophila</italic> larvae. </p><p>After identifying the nociceptors, I next investigated several ion channels that are critical molecular components for larval nociception. The Degenerin Epithelial Sodium Channel (DEG/ENaC) protein called pickpocket (ppk) is required specifically for larval mechanical nociception but not for thermal nociception. Being specifically expressed in class IV multidendritic neurons (the nociceptors), pickpocket is likely to function as a first detector of mechanical stimuli and upstream of general neuronal action potential propagation. In addition, I have found that the <italic>Drosophila</italic> orthologue of mammalian TRPA1 gene, <italic>TrpA1</italic>, is required for both mechanical and thermal nociception in <italic>Drosophila</italic> larvae. I have cloned a new isoform of dTRPA1 and have found it to be specifically expressed in class IV md neurons. Unlike the known dTRPA1 isoform that is warmth activated, this new isoform is not directly activated by temperatures between 15-42 °C. Instead, it may function downstream of sensory transduction step in the nociceptors. </p><p>Interestingly, <italic>dTrpA1</italic> mutants are also defective in their thermotaxis behavior within innocuous temperature ranges. In addition to the previously reported defects in avoiding warm temperatures, I have found these flies also failed to avoid cool temperatures between 16-19.5 °C. This defect is likely to be mediated by temperature sensing neurons in the antennae. I have detected antennal expression using a GAL4 reporter of dTrpA1. Significantly, these neurons exhibit elevated calcium levels in response to cooling. dTrpA1 mutants have a premature decay of the cooling response at temperatures below 22 °C during a cooling process. I have also identified another population of cells in the antennae that can respond to temperature changes. These neurons express the olfactory co-receptor Or83b and are known to be olfactory neurons. Calcium oscillations triggered by cooling were detected in these neurons and they were terminated by warming. Severe behavioral defects in avoiding cool temperatures were found in animals lacking <italic>Or83b</italic>. Our results suggest that there are multiple pathways regulating cooling sensation in the fly antennae.</p><p>Taken together, I have shown that <italic>Drosophila</italic> serves as a great model system to study nociception and thermosensation at molecular, cellular and behavioral levels.</p> / Dissertation

My thesis research comprises two projects looking into physiological functions of Drosophila ion channels: first, contribution of several T ransient R eceptor P otential (TRP) channels to gravity sensing; second, regulation of metabolic homeostasis by a D egenerin/ E pithelial Na + C hannel (DEG/ENaC). Many animal species sense gravity for spatial orientation. In humans recurrent vertigo and dizziness are often attributable to impairment of gravity sensing in the vestibular organs. However, the molecular bases for gravity sensing and its disruption in vestibular disease remain uncertain. Here I studied gravity sensing in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, with a combination of genetic, behavioral and electrophysiological methods. My results show that gravity sensing requires Johnston’s organ, a mechanosensory structure located in the antenna that also mediates hearing. Johnston’s organ neurons fire action potentials in a phasic manner in response to body rotations in the gravitational field. Furthermore, gravity sensing and hearing require different TRP channels with distinct anatomical localizations, implying separate neural mechanisms underlying gravity sensing and hearing. These findings set the stage for understanding how TRP channels contribute to the sensory transduction of gravity. Drosophila melanogaster has over 20 genes belonging to the DEG/ENaC family, which are collectively referred to as pickpockets (ppks) . Genetic analyses have implicated ppk genes in salt taste, tracheal liquid clearance, pheromone detection, and developmental timing. These results, together with the conserved presence of DEG/ENaC genes through evolution, suggest that further studies on fly ppk genes may help gain insights to a number of physiological processes. Here I report that the ppk11 gene regulates metabolic homeostasis. A ppk11 enhancer/promoter fragment labels the fat body, the lipid storage organ of Drosophila. ppk11 mutants are lean — they store less triacylglyceride (TAG), possess smaller lipid droplets and are sensitive to starvation compared to wild–type flies. ppk11 mutants also show signs of enhanced insulin sensitivity — they store more glycogen and maintain a lower level of circulating carbohydrate (trehalose). Moreover, the mutants have extended life span, suggesting ppk11–dependent activities of the fat body have systematic and long–term effects on the fly body. Understanding the cellular function of ppk11 may offer new insights into mechanisms that regulate metabolic homeostasis.