PUBLICATION

Deep Brain Photoreceptors Control Light-Seeking Behavior in Zebrafish Larvae

Authors
Fernandes, A.M., Fero, K., Arrenberg, A.B., Bergeron, S.A., Driever, W., and Burgess, H.A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-121004-14
Date
2012
Source
Current biology : CB   22(21): 2042-2047 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Bergeron, Sadie, Burgess, Harold, Driever, Wolfgang
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate/physiology*
  • Larva/physiology
  • Motor Activity
  • Darkness
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
  • Brain/cytology
  • Brain/physiology*
  • Swimming
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation*
  • Visual Perception*
  • Animals
  • Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Transcription Factors/metabolism
(all 17)
PubMed
23000151 Full text @ Curr. Biol.
Abstract

Most vertebrates process visual information using elaborately structured photosensory tissues, including the eyes and pineal. However, there is strong evidence that other tissues can detect and respond to photic stimuli. Many reports suggest that photosensitive elements exist within the brain itself and influence physiology and behavior; however, a long-standing puzzle has been the identity of the neurons and photoreceptor molecules involved. We tested whether light cues influence behavior in zebrafish larvae through deep brain photosensors. We found that larvae lacking eyes and pineal perform a simple light-seeking behavior triggered by loss of illumination (“dark photokinesis”). Neuroanatomical considerations prompted us to test orthopedia (otpa)-deficient fish, which show a profound reduction in dark photokinesis. Using targeted genetic ablations, we narrowed the photosensitive region to neurons in the preoptic area. Neurons in this region express several photoreceptive molecules, but expression of the melanopsin opn4a is selectively lost in otpa mutants, suggesting that opn4a mediates dark photokinesis. Our findings shed light on the identity and function of deep brain photoreceptors and suggest that otpa specifies an ancient population of sensory neurons that mediate behavioral responses to light.

Genes / Markers
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Expression
Phenotype
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Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
c264TgTransgenic Insertion
    m866
      Small Deletion
      m881
        Point Mutation
        m1230TgTransgenic Insertion
          m1233TgTransgenic Insertion
            s399
              Point Mutation
              s1992tTgTransgenic Insertion
                sa115
                  Small Deletion
                  t25327
                    Point Mutation
                    y227EtTransgenic Insertion
                      1 - 10 of 13
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                      Human Disease / Model
                      No data available
                      Sequence Targeting Reagents
                      No data available
                      Fish
                      Antibodies
                      Name Type Antigen Genes Isotypes Host Organism
                      Ab1-DsRedpolyclonalRabbit
                      Ab6-thpolyclonalRabbit
                      Ab7-rhomonoclonal
                        IgG1Mouse
                        1 - 3 of 3
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                        Orthology
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                        Engineered Foreign Genes
                        Marker Marker Type Name
                        EGFPEFGEGFP
                        GAL4EFGGAL4
                        GFPEFGGFP
                        mCherryEFGmCherry
                        NTREFGNTR
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                        Mapping
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