The tarantula venom toxin GsMTx4 is the only known specific inhibitor of cation-selective mechanosensitive ion channels (MSCs). Its specificity, potency, and ease of use on isolated tissues and cells have made it a powerful pharmacological tool to identify and probe the physiological function of MSCs. In some contexts, however, it would be desirable to deliver the toxin in a controlled way in vivo. Here we describe a novel tool to allow spatial and temporal control of GsMTx4 delivery in vivo in Drosophila. To test the tool, we targeted MSCs required for mechanical nociception in a specific subset of sensory neurons in intact larvae. Expression of GsMTx4 in these neurons results in robust inhibition of mechanical nociception, demonstrating the toxin is active when expressed in vivo. The tool will be particularly useful to manipulate MSC activity in a spatially and temporally-controlled manner to study their role in development, physiology and behaviour in intact, free moving animals.

狼蛛毒毒素GsMTx4是阳离子选择性机械敏感离子通道（MSCs）的唯一已知特异性抑制剂。它的特异性，效力和在分离的组织和细胞上的易用性使其成为鉴定和探测MSC生理功能的强大药理工具。然而，在某些情况下，希望以受控的方式在体内递送毒素。在这里，我们描述了一种新颖的工具，可以在果蝇体内体内时空控制GsMTx4的传递。为了测试该工具，我们将完整的幼虫感觉神经元特定子集中的机械伤害感受所需的MSC定位为目标。这些神经元中GsMTx4的表达可强烈抑制机械伤害感受，表明该毒素在体内表达时具有活性。该工具对于以空间和时间控制的方式操纵MSC活动以研究其在完整，自由移动的动物中的发育，生理和行为中的作用特别有用。