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SUMMARY:Neural circuitry of a polycystin-mediated hydrodynamic startle res
 ponse in Platynereis: from genes to ecology - Gáspár Jékely (University
  of Exeter)
DTSTART:20180123T130000Z
DTEND:20180123T140000Z
UID:TALK97183@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Michael Akam
DESCRIPTION:Startle responses are widespread in animals and require neural
  circuitry to control fast whole-body responses. To dissect the genetic an
 d circuit bases of such coordinated whole-body responses we study a startl
 e response to water-born vibrations in a marine larva. We found that upon 
 water vibrations larvae of the annelid _Platynereis_ arrest locomotor cili
 a\, and simultaneously contract the body and elevate all segmental parapod
 ia. The startle response is mediated by collar receptor neurons expressing
  the polycystin channels PKD1 and PKD2. CRISPR-generated PKD1 and PKD2 mut
 ant larvae do not startle and fall prey to a copepod predator at a higher 
 rate. Reconstruction of the whole-body connectome of collar receptor circu
 itry revealed parallel feed-forward circuits to ciliary bands and muscles.
  The wiring diagram suggests circuit mechanisms for the intersegmental and
  left-right coordination of the startle response. Our results reveal how p
 olycystin-mediated mechanosensation can trigger a coordinated whole-body e
 ffector response involved in predator avoidance.
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology \, Downing Street
 \, CB2 3EJ
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