Widespread Receptivity to Neuropeptide PDF throughout the Neuronal Circadian Clock Network of Drosophila Revealed by Real-Time Cyclic AMP Imaging

A subset of PDF-expressing neurons in Drosophila shows long-lasting cAMP increases in response to the neuropeptide PDF.

• PDF is released by sixteen clock neurons and is involved in coordinating approximately 150 neuronal clocks that maintain circadian rhythms.
• Responses to PDF require the PDF receptor, indicating a specific mechanism of action within the neural network.
• In contrast, another neuropeptide, DH31, triggers large cAMP increases in all PDF-expressing clock neurons, suggesting different pathways for neuropeptide signaling.
• The findings support the hypothesis that PDF directly modulates most neurons in the Drosophila clock network.
• The study provides a new method to measure cAMP changes in living brains with subcellular resolution.

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