Effect of AzoTAB on phototaxis in Planaria Torva

This paper is devoted to the effect of an azobenzol derivative with photocontrolable structure (AzoTAB) on the motion of flatworms Planariatorva. Trans-AzoTAB efficiently inhibits ion channels in excitable cell membrane, neurons and cardiomyocytes, while cis- AzoTAB does not. In the current research we study how the presence of AzoTAB isomers controls the simplest behaviour of pluricellular organisms with the rudiments of differentiated nervous system like planaria. We also study the trajectories of planaria which are illuminated with visible and UV light in the medium with AzoTAB of various concentrations. In addition, we measure the velocities of planaria positive and negative phototaxis in the media containing AzoTAB isomers. We demonstrate that the tinhibitory effect of the AzoTAB on planaria motion under the UV light is reversible.