zxIs12 [F49H12.4P::ChR2(H134R)::mCherry + F49H12.4P::GFP]. Strain expresses Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2(H134R)::mCherry) and GFP (as marker) in PVD and AQR, as well as in a non-identified tail neuron, using the F49H12.4 promoter (see also ZX679). When grown in the presence of all-trans retinal and illuminated with blue light, animals show strong forward locomotion escape behavior, which can be quantified using locomotion video tracking. The strain can be used to analyze function of PVD cells, and to estimate the role of specific genes in the function of this polymodal nociceptor, downstream of depolarization via ChR2. All-trans retinal needs to be added with OP50 bacteria when seeding plates to render ChR2 functional. This strain is in lite-1(ce314) background, which eliminates the photophobic behavioral response that will be startled by blue light when longer light stimuli are used (>1s). To not confuse the photophobic behavior induced by LITE-1, with the PVD evoked escape behavior, this strain is needed for experiments with prolonged photostimulation. References: Husson S, et al. Curr Biol. 2012 May 8;22(9):743-52. Smith CJ, et al. Neuron. 2013 Jul 24;79(2):266-80. Cohen E, et al. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 2104 59C: 85-96.