Pigment-Dispersing Factor (PDF) Has Different Effects on <i>Drosophila</i>'s Circadian Clocks in the Accessory Medulla and in the Dorsal Brain

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<jats:p> The neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) is a key transmitter in the circadian clock of Drosophila melanogaster. Here we studied the rhythmic behavior of neural mutants with modified arborizations of the large PDF neurons. In sine oculis<jats:sup>1</jats:sup> ( so<jats:sup>1</jats:sup>) mutants we found a higher density of PDF fibers in the fly's pacemaker center, the accessory medulla. These flies exhibited a significantly longer period (24.6 h) than control flies. When PDF levels were elevated to very high levels in the dorsal brain as true for so<jats:sup>mda</jats:sup> mutants and small optic lobes;so<jats:sup>1</jats:sup> double mutants ( sol<jats:sup>1</jats:sup>;so<jats:sup> 1</jats:sup>), a short-period component split off the long period in behavioral rhythmicity. The short period became shorter the higher the amount of PDF in this brain region and reached a value of ~21 h. The period alterations were clearly dependent on PDF, because so<jats:sup>1</jats:sup>;Pdf 01 and so<jats:sup>mda</jats:sup>;Pdf 01 double mutants showed a single free-running component with a period similar to Pdf 01 mutants (~22.5 h) and significantly longer than the short period of so<jats:sup>mda</jats:sup> mutants. These observations indicate that PDF feeds back on the clock neurons and changes their period. Obviously, PDF lengthens the period of some clock neurons and shortens that of others. </jats:p>

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