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Visual systems transduce, process and transmit light-dependent environmental cues. Computation of visual features depends on photoreceptor neuron types (PR) present, organization of the eye and wiring of the underlying neural circuit. Here, we describe the circuit architecture of the visual system of Drosophila larvae by mapping the synaptic wiring diagram and neurotransmitters. By contacting different targets, the two larval PR-subtypes create two converging pathways potentially underlying the computation of ambient light intensity and temporal light changes already within this first visual processing center. Locally processed visual information then signals via dedicated projection interneurons to higher brain areas including the lateral horn and mushroom body. The stratified structure of the larval optic neuropil (LON) suggests common organizational principles with the adult fly and vertebrate visual systems. The complete synaptic wiring diagram of the LON paves the way to understanding how circuits with reduced numerical complexity control wide ranges of behaviors.

Odor discrimination in higher brain centers is essential for behavioral responses to odors. One such center is the mushroom body (MB) of insects, which is required for odor discrimination learning. The calyx of the MB receives olfactory input from projection neurons (PNs) that are targets of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in the antennal lobe (AL). In the calyx, olfactory information is transformed from broadly-tuned representations in PNs to sparse representations in MB neurons (Kenyon cells). However, the extent of stereotypy in olfactory representations in the calyx is unknown. Using the anatomically-simple larval olfactory system of Drosophila in which odor ligands for the entire set of 21 OSNs are known, we asked how odor identity is represented in the MB calyx. We first mapped the projections of all larval OSNs in the glomeruli of the AL, and then followed the connections of individual PNs from the AL to different calyx glomeruli. We thus established a comprehensive olfactory map from OSNs to a higher olfactory association center, at a single-cell level. Stimulation of single OSNs evoked strong neuronal activity in 1 to 3 calyx glomeruli, showing that broadening of the strongest PN responses is limited to a few calyx glomeruli. Stereotypic representation of single OSN input in calyx glomeruli provides a mechanism for MB neurons to detect and discriminate olfactory cues.

We have studied the function of the major central olfactory pathway in fruit flies. Key elements of this pathway, the projection neurons (PNs), connect the antennal lobes with the lateral protocerebrum both directly and indirectly, the latter via the mushroom bodies (MBs). Transgenic expression of tetanus toxin in the majority of PNs and few MB neurons leads to defects in odor detection and male courtship. Considering behavioral data from flies lacking MBs, our results argue that the direct PN-to-lateral protocerebrum pathway is necessary and sufficient to process these experience-independent behaviors. Moreover, the involvement of an olfactory pathway in male courtship suggests a role of volatile attractive female pheromones in Drosophila.

In this paper, we study DmOAZ, the unique Drosophila melanogaster homologue of the OAZ zinc finger protein family. We show partial conservation of the zinc finger organization between DmOAZ and the vertebrate members of this family. We determine the exon/intron structure of the dmOAZ gene and deduce its open reading frame. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis shows that dmOAZ is transcribed throughout life. In the embryo, strongest DmOAZ expression is observed in the posterior spiracles. We suggest that dmOAZ acts as a secondary target of the Abd-B gene in posterior spiracle development, downstream of cut and ems. In a newly created loss-of-function mutant, dmOAZ93, the “filzkörper” part of the posterior spiracles, is indeed structurally abnormal. The dmOAZ93 mutant is a larval lethal, a phenotype that may be linked to the spiracular defect. Given the dmOAZ93 mutant as a new tool, the fruit fly may provide an alternative model for analyzing in vivo the functions of OAZ family members.

In this paper, we address the role of proneural genes in the formation of the dorsal organ in the Drosophila larva. This organ is an intricate compound comprising the multineuronal dome—the exclusive larval olfactory organ—and a number of mostly gustatory sensilla. We first determine the numbers of neurons and of the different types of accessory cells in the dorsal organ. From these data, we conclude that the dorsal organ derives from 14 sensory organ precursor cells. Seven of them appear to give rise to the dome, which therefore may be composed of seven fused sensilla, whereas the other precursors produce the remaining sensilla of the dorsal organ. By a loss-of-function approach, we then analyze the role of atonal, amos, and the achaete-scute complex (AS-C), which in the adult are the exclusive proneural genes required for chemosensory organ specification. We show that atonal and amos are necessary and sufficient in a complementary way for four and three of the sensory organ precursors of the dome, respectively. AS-C, on the other hand, is implicated in specifying the non-olfactory sensilla, partially in cooperation with atonal and/or amos. Similar links for these proneural genes with olfactory and gustatory function have been established in the adult fly. However, such conserved gene function is not trivial, given that adult and larval chemosensory organs are anatomically very different and that the development of adult olfactory sensilla involves cell recruitment, which is unlikely to play a role in dome formation.

Odor discrimination in higher brain centers is essential for behavioral responses to odors. One such center is the mushroom body (MB) of insects, which is required for odor discrimination learning. The calyx of the MB receives olfactory input from projection neurons (PNs) that are targets of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in the antennal lobe (AL). In the calyx, olfactory information is transformed from broadly-tuned representations in PNs to sparse representations in MB neurons (Kenyon cells). However, the extent of stereotypy in olfactory representations in the calyx is unknown. Using the anatomically-simple larval olfactory system of Drosophila in which odor ligands for the entire set of 21 OSNs are known, we asked how odor identity is represented in the MB calyx. We first mapped the projections of all larval OSNs in the glomeruli of the AL, and then followed the connections of individual PNs from the AL to different calyx glomeruli. We thus established a comprehensive olfactory map from OSNs to a higher olfactory association center, at a single-cell level. Stimulation of single OSNs evoked strong neuronal activity in 1 to 3 calyx glomeruli, showing that broadening of the strongest PN responses is limited to a few calyx glomeruli. Stereotypic representation of single OSN input in calyx glomeruli provides a mechanism for MB neurons to detect and discriminate olfactory cues.

Odor discrimination in higher brain centers is essential for behavioral responses to odors. One such center is the mushroom body (MB) of insects, which is required for odor discrimination learning. The calyx of the MB receives olfactory input from projection neurons (PNs) that are targets of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in the antennal lobe (AL). In the calyx, olfactory information is transformed from broadly-tuned representations in PNs to sparse representations in MB neurons (Kenyon cells). However, the extent of stereotypy in olfactory representations in the calyx is unknown. Using the anatomically-simple larval olfactory system of Drosophila in which odor ligands for the entire set of 21 OSNs are known, we asked how odor identity is represented in the MB calyx. We first mapped the projections of all larval OSNs in the glomeruli of the AL, and then followed the connections of individual PNs from the AL to different calyx glomeruli. We thus established a comprehensive olfactory map from OSNs to a higher olfactory association center, at a single-cell level. Stimulation of single OSNs evoked strong neuronal activity in 1 to 3 calyx glomeruli, showing that broadening of the strongest PN responses is limited to a few calyx glomeruli. Stereotypic representation of single OSN input in calyx glomeruli provides a mechanism for MB neurons to detect and discriminate olfactory cues.

Visual systems transduce, process and transmit light-dependent environmental cues. Computation of visual features depends on the types of photoreceptor neurons (PR) present, the organization of the eye and the wiring of the underlying neural circuit. Here, we describe the circuit architecture of the visual system of Drosophila larvae by mapping the synaptic wiring diagram and neurotransmitters. By contacting different targets, the two larval PR-subtypes create parallel circuits potentially underlying the computation of absolute light intensity and temporal light changes already within this first visual processing center. Locally processed visual information then signals via dedicated projection interneurons to higher brain areas including the lateral horn and mushroom body. The stratified structure of the LON suggests common organizational principles with the adult fly and vertebrate visual systems. The complete synaptic wiring diagram of the LON paves the way to understanding how circuits with reduced numerical complexity control wide ranges of behaviors.