Axonemal dyneins and force generation by neurons in Drosophila melanogaster ear
by Somdatta Karak
Date of Examination:2013-10-28
Date of issue:2014-05-26
Advisor:Prof. Dr. Martin Göpfert
Referee:Prof. Dr. André Fiala
Referee:Prof. Dr. Tobias Moser
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Abstract
English
Analogous to vertebrate hair cells, the mechanosensory cilia of Drosophila auditory neurons are motile and serve dual, transducing and actuating roles. Structurally, the latter cilia resemble non-motile primary cilia, raising the question of how they generate motility. Two axonemal dynein motors are described in this thesis that are expressed in the fly’s auditory neurons and differently contribute to cilium motility: Whereas one dynein is required to generate motility, the other dynein regulates this motility by interacting with transient receptor potential ion channels of the vanilloid subfamily. Motility generation is shown to involve interactions between dyneins and yet another TRP channel, which together with dyneins seems to promote motility. This links auditory cilium motility to molecular motors and shows that this motility involves multiple interactions between the TRP channels and motor proteins.
Keywords: axonemal dyneins + sensory cilia + Johnston's Organ + Drosophila hearing