Supplemental Data for Dissertation "Neuronal Principles of Learning and Memory in Drosophila" by Lisa Epple

Functional validation of optogenetic manipulations was performed using the motor neuron driver D42-GAL4. Muscle contraction or relaxation in Drosophila larvae served as behavioral readouts of neuronal activation or inhibition, respectively. Experiments were conducted with the assistance of Anna-Lena Eckardt and Paul Vogt.

Supplementary Video 1&2.
Optogenetic activation of D42-GAL4 motor neurons via the channelrhodopsin CsChrimson induces robust muscle contraction in Drosophila larvae upon illumination with orange light (590 nm) and green light (515 nm) and to a lesser extent with blue light (460 nm). The exemplary video serves as a functional control verifying optogenetic activation.

Supplementary Video 3.
Optogenetic inactivation of D42-GAL4 motor neurons via the inhibitory channelrhodopsin Aurora induces muscle relaxation and loss of forward locomotion in Drosophila larvae upon illumination with green light (515 nm) and to a lesser extent with orange light (590 nm). The exemplare video serves as a functional control verifying optogenetic inhibition.