(provided by candidate): Color vision requires a comparison of outputs from different types of color photoreceptor cells. In vertebrates, the initial steps of this processing are performed by retinal neurons that connect to the color photoreceptors. In fruit flies, such connections are likely to occur in the medulla, a brain structure close to the fly retina. In principle, a number of different comparisons could be made between four different types of fly color photoreceptors. We plan to identify neurons which contact two or more different types of photoreceptors. This, together with our knowledge of photoreceptor properties, will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of color processing in flies. We expect that the basic principles that we will uncover will apply to color vision in different animals, including humans. To this end, we propose to develop three different approaches for visualizing neurons connected to the photoreceptors: by randomly labeling different sets of neurons, by identifying markers for specific sets of medulla neurons and by directly labeling neurons connected to the color photoreceptors. Our work will provide a solid foundation for further studies involving genetic manipulations of color-processing neurons and further understanding of color perception .

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32EY016309-03
Application #
7166818
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F03A (20))
Program Officer
Mariani, Andrew P
Project Start
2005-01-01
Project End
2007-12-31
Budget Start
2007-01-01
Budget End
2007-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$52,048
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041968306
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10012
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Johnston Jr, Robert J; Otake, Yoshiaki; Sood, Pranidhi et al. (2011) Interlocked feedforward loops control cell-type-specific Rhodopsin expression in the Drosophila eye. Cell 145:956-68