Seeing begins in the photoreceptors, where light is absorbed and signaled to the nervous
system. Throughout the animal kingdom, photoreceptors are diverse in design and purpose …

Originally a genetic model organism, the experimental use of Drosophila melanogaster has
grown to include quantitative behavioral analyses, sophisticated perturbations of neuronal …

Photoreceptors in metazoans can be grouped into two classes, with their photoreceptive
membrane derived either from cilia or microvilli. Both classes use some form of the visual …

Phototransduction in Drosophila microvillar photoreceptor cells is mediated by a G protein–
activated phospholipase C (PLC). PLC hydrolyzes the minor membrane lipid …

Diacylglycerol (DAG) is an important lipid that is both an intermediate in lipid biosynthetic
pathways and can act as a signaling lipid. The majority of signaling DAG is generated by …

Among the millions of invertebrate species with visual systems, the genetic basis of eye
development and function is well understood only in Drosophila melanogaster. We describe …

Anopheles gambiae, the primary African vector of malaria parasites, exhibits numerous
rhythmic behaviors including flight activity, swarming, mating, host seeking, egg laying, and …

Highlights•Drosophila phototransduction uses canonical Gq/PLC/TRP channel cascade.•
Photoreceptors respond to single photons 10–100× faster than vertebrate …

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are polymodal cellular sensors involved in a
wide variety of cellular processes, mainly by changing membrane voltage and increasing …

Background Phototransduction in microvillar photoreceptors is mediated via G protein-
coupled phospholipase C (PLC), but how PLC activation leads to the opening of the light …