Oxford Events, the new replacement for OxTalks, will launch on 16th March. The two-week OxTalks freeze period starts on Monday 2nd March. During this time, there will be no facility to publish or edit events. The existing OxTalks site will remain available to view during this period. Once Oxford Events launches, you will need a Halo login to submit events. Full details are available on the Staff Gateway.
The Drosophila clock network is a network of peptidergic oscillators, with neuropeptides coordinating network activity and conveying time-of-day information to circadian output regions that regulate circadian behavior and physiology. While connectivity within the clock network is well-established, how the clock conveys time-of-day information to output regions remains unknown. Both clock neurons, and neurons within the pars intercerebralis (PI), a major circadian output hub, secrete multiple neuropeptides and small molecule neurotransmitters that may work in concert. Using clock-neuron-specific CRISPR, we have identified novel output neuropeptides that play sex-specific roles in regulating circadian rest-activity behavior. Clock neurons provide time-of-day specific signals to the PI via both neuropeptides and small molecule neurotransmitters. Further, we have identified intra-PI connectivity which allows integration of time-of-day cues with additional sensory inputs to guide appropriate behavior selection in complex environments.