Armstrong J D, Texada M J, Munjaal R, Baker D A, Beckingham K M
School of Informatics, Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation, University of Edinburgh, UK.
Genes Brain Behav. 2006 Apr;5(3):222-39. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-183X.2005.00154.x.
Perception of the earth's gravitational force is essential for most forms of animal life. However, little is known of the molecular mechanisms and neuronal circuitry underlying gravitational responses. A forward genetic screen using Drosophila melanogaster that provides insight into these characteristics is described here. Vertical choice mazes combined with additional behavioral assays were used to identify mutants specifically affected in gravitaxic responses. Twenty-three mutants were selected for molecular analysis. As a result, 18 candidate genes are now implicated in the gravitaxic behavior of flies. Many of these genes have orthologs across the animal kingdom, while some are more specific to Drosophila and invertebrates. One gene (yuri) located close to a known locus for gravitaxis has been the subject of more extensive analysis including confirmation by transgenic rescue.
对大多数动物生命形式而言，感知地球引力至关重要。然而，对于引力反应背后的分子机制和神经回路却知之甚少。本文描述了一项利用黑腹果蝇进行的正向遗传筛选，该筛选有助于深入了解这些特征。采用垂直选择迷宫并结合其他行为分析来鉴定在重力定向反应中受到特异性影响的突变体。挑选了23个突变体进行分子分析。结果，现已发现18个候选基因与果蝇的重力定向行为有关。这些基因中的许多在整个动物界都有直系同源基因，而有些则对果蝇和无脊椎动物更为特异。一个位于已知重力定向基因座附近的基因（yuri）已成为更广泛分析的对象，包括通过转基因拯救进行确认。
