A Resource for Manipulating Gene Expression and Analyzing cis-Regulatory Modules in the Drosophila CNS

SummaryHere, we describe the embryonic central nervous system expression of 5,000 GAL4 lines made using molecularly defined cis-regulatory DNA inserted into a single attP genomic location. We document and annotate the patterns in early embryos when neurogenesis is at its peak, and in older embryos where there is maximal neuronal diversity and the first neural circuits are established. We note expression in other tissues, such as the lateral body wall (muscle, sensory neurons, and trachea) and viscera. Companion papers report on the adult brain and larval imaginal discs, and the integrated data sets are available online (http://www.janelia.org/gal4-gen1). This collection of embryonically expressed GAL4 lines will be valuable for determining neuronal morphology and function. The 1,862 lines expressed in small subsets of neurons (<20/segment) will be especially valuable for characterizing interneuronal diversity and function, because although interneurons comprise the majority of all central nervous system neurons, their gene expression profile and function remain virtually unexplored.

Graphical AbstractFigure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Five thousand Drosophila genomic fragments were analyzed for embryonic central nervous system expression
► More than 1,500 lines are expressed in small subsets of neurons
► The lines provide markers and functional access for >95% of central nervous system neurons