Cultivating generations of Gr5a-GAL4 virgin females cross-breeding UAS-hid and UAS-CsCr Drosophila flies and analyzing the feeding behavior using inactivated yeast when the Gr5a-GAL4 sucrose receptors are activated. Developed and designed 20 unique optogenetic rigs holding 24 culture vials, replacable with fly hotels, to increase activation by 25% in serotonergic neuronal circuits.
Evaluated the influence of enhancer’s upstream or downstream positions relative to the MS2 and PP7 protein. Analyzed effects of different enhancer strengths on gene expression using con-focal microscopes and single cell imaging technique to determine each parameter’s impact on gene expression dynamics. Investigated whether modifications in the 3D enhancer-promoter arrangement induced developmental phenotype.