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. 2014 Nov 14;9(11):e113156. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113156

Figure 3. Control of silkmoth behavior by the thermogenetic approach.

Figure 3

(A–G) The thermosensor protein, dTrpA1, was ubiquitously expressed by crossing Actin A3-GAL4 and UAS-dTrpA1 strains. (A–C) Thermal stimulation induced systemic contraction in second instar larvae. Phenotypes were analyzed at 23°C and 40°C. The convulsion-like phenotype was observed at 40°C (B) and was reversible by decreasing the temperature to 23°C (C) (Video S1). (D) Cumulative curve of responsive larvae to incubation temperature. Vertical axis indicates ratio of larvae showing contractile phenotype during the observation time (10 min for each temperature; N = 9). (E–G) A convulsion-like phenotype was induced in male adult moths at 40°C (F), and was reversible at 25°C (G) (Video S2). (H–J) Sexual behavior was reversibly controlled by thermal stimulation in the male moths with dTrpA1 misexpression in the bombykol receptor neurons (Video S3). (K, L) Thermogenetic activation of the bombykol receptor neurons induced pheromone orientation behavior. When the thermal source (heater) was turned on, male transgenic moths began wing-flapping, orienting to the heat source, and attempting copulation, and approached the heat source (Video S4).