University of Kentucky
Reduced Calcium Channel Function in the Drosophila cacTS2 mutant on Vision, Olfaction and Regulation of the Hear
Institution
University of Kentucky
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Robin Cooper
Abstract
The cacTS2 Drosophila line have reduced Ca2+ channel function at raised temperatures. The inhibition of calcium to flow inside the neuron causes a reduction in synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction. When the adults of cacTS2 are exposed to 38°C for a few minutes they rapidly stop flying and walking which implies the alterations measured electrophysiologically in the skeletal muscles of larvae also apply to motor units in skeletal muscles of adults as well as to possibly other sites of depressed synaptic communication. Here we used the cacTS2 strain to investigate the potential actions in vision and olfaction in adult Drosophila. Where as in larval Drosophila, we further assess sensory regulation of heart rate as well as direct action in the heart at restrictive temperatures to further delineate the properties of the cacTS2 strain. Mutations that are temperature sensitive provide a good means to study the mechanisms of regulating homeostasis over time. Since clinically the regulation of calcium channel function in conditions of epilepsy and convulsions are used, the long-term effect of reducing calcium channel function is of interest. We will report on the effects of varied heat pulses during formation of the adult CNS for the cacTS2 and CS lines.
Reduced Calcium Channel Function in the Drosophila cacTS2 mutant on Vision, Olfaction and Regulation of the Hear
The cacTS2 Drosophila line have reduced Ca2+ channel function at raised temperatures. The inhibition of calcium to flow inside the neuron causes a reduction in synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction. When the adults of cacTS2 are exposed to 38°C for a few minutes they rapidly stop flying and walking which implies the alterations measured electrophysiologically in the skeletal muscles of larvae also apply to motor units in skeletal muscles of adults as well as to possibly other sites of depressed synaptic communication. Here we used the cacTS2 strain to investigate the potential actions in vision and olfaction in adult Drosophila. Where as in larval Drosophila, we further assess sensory regulation of heart rate as well as direct action in the heart at restrictive temperatures to further delineate the properties of the cacTS2 strain. Mutations that are temperature sensitive provide a good means to study the mechanisms of regulating homeostasis over time. Since clinically the regulation of calcium channel function in conditions of epilepsy and convulsions are used, the long-term effect of reducing calcium channel function is of interest. We will report on the effects of varied heat pulses during formation of the adult CNS for the cacTS2 and CS lines.