1. Sensory Systems Laboratory, Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany
2. Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0032 Tokyo, Japan
3. School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1, Horinouchi, Hachioji, 192-0392 Tokyo, Japan
4. Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute, University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
5. Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Department of Genetics and Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
6. These authors contributed equally to this work.
7. Present address: Division of Biology 216-76, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.

Correspondence to: Martin C. Göpfert^1,4Kei Ito² Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to K.I. (Email: itokei@iam.u-tokyo.ac.jp) or M.C.G. (Email: mgoepfe@gwdg.de).

Abstract

The neural substrates that the fruitfly Drosophila uses to sense smell, taste and light share marked structural and functional similarities with ours, providing attractive models to dissect sensory stimulus processing. Here we focus on two of the remaining and less understood prime sensory modalities: graviception and hearing. We show that the fly has implemented both sensory modalities into a single system, Johnston's organ, which houses specialized clusters of mechanosensory neurons, each of which monitors specific movements of the antenna. Gravity- and sound-sensitive neurons differ in their response characteristics, and only the latter express the candidate mechanotransducer channel NompC. The two neural subsets also differ in their central projections, feeding into neural pathways that are reminiscent of the vestibular and auditory pathways in our brain. By establishing the Drosophila counterparts of these sensory systems, our findings provide the basis for a systematic functional and molecular dissection of how different mechanosensory stimuli are detected and processed.

1. Sensory Systems Laboratory, Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany
2. Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0032 Tokyo, Japan
3. School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1, Horinouchi, Hachioji, 192-0392 Tokyo, Japan
4. Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute, University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
5. Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Department of Genetics and Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
6. These authors contributed equally to this work.
7. Present address: Division of Biology 216-76, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.

Correspondence to: Martin C. Göpfert^1,4Kei Ito² Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to K.I. (Email: itokei@iam.u-tokyo.ac.jp) or M.C.G. (Email: mgoepfe@gwdg.de).

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