Frequency-specific modification of locomotor components by thewhitegene inDrosophila melanogasteradult flies

The classic eye-color genewhite(w) inDrosophila melanogaster(fruitfly) has unexpected behavioral consequences. Howwaffects locomotion of adult flies is largely unknown. Here, we show that a mutant allele (w(1118)) selectively increases locomotor components at relatively high frequencies (> 0.1 Hz). Thew(1118)flies had reduced transcripts ofw(+)from the 5 ' end of the gene. Male flies ofw(1118)walked continuously in circular arenas while the wildtype Canton-S walked intermittently. Through careful control of genetic and cytoplasmic backgrounds, we found that thew(1118)locus was associated with continuous walking.w(1118)-carrying male flies showed increased median values of path length per second (PPS) and 5-min path length compared withw(+)-carrying males. Additionally, flies carrying 2-4 genomic copies of mini-white(+)(mw(+)) in thew(1118)background showed suppressed median PPSs and decreased 5-min path length compared with controls, and the suppression was dependent on the copy number of mw(+). Analysis of the time-series (i.e., PPSs over time) by Fourier transform indicated thatw(1118)was associated with increased locomotor components at relatively high frequencies (> 0.1 Hz). The addition of multiple genomic copies of mw(+)(2-4 copies) suppressed the high-frequency components. Lastly, the downregulation ofw(+)in neurons but not glial cells resulted in increased high-frequency components. We concluded that mutation ofwmodified the locomotion in adult flies by selectively increasing high-frequency locomotor components.

Automated summary

Mutation of the classic eye-color gene white (w) in fruit flies results in selectively increasing high-frequency locomotor components, leading to altered behavior patterns. This is associated with reduced transcripts of the w(+) gene in neurons, showing a link between genetic mutation and locomotion changes in adult fruit flies.