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Role for para sodium channel gene 3′ UTR in the modification of Drosophila seizure susceptibility
Author(s) -
Song Juan,
Tanouye Mark
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
developmental neurobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.716
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1932-846X
pISSN - 1932-8451
DOI - 10.1002/dneu.20519
Subject(s) - biology , genetics , gene , untranslated region , coding region , sodium channel , transcription (linguistics) , five prime untranslated region , three prime untranslated region , microbiology and biotechnology , messenger rna , sodium , linguistics , chemistry , philosophy , organic chemistry
Voltage‐gated sodium channel genes are highly regulated at the level of transcription or translation. In this study, we have utilized the combination of genetic, electrophysiological, and molecular analyses to identify a 7‐kb 3′‐untranslated region (UTR) of the Drosophila para sodium channel gene. Disruption of this segment by P‐element insertion causes reduction of para primary transcript, but not Rbp2 transcripts. The identification of this novel 3′‐UTR is based on a P‐insertion mutation called para JS1 , which was isolated from a P‐element mutagenesis screen for seizure suppressors in a Drosophila model of epilepsy. The para JS1 mutation was identified 6845 bp downstream of the para gene, which resides in an intergenic region that lies between para and Rbp2 (RNA‐binding protein 2) genes. Interestingly, reverse‐transcription PCR showed that the region containing para JS1 is substantially transcribed and this transcribed region is associated with para coding region. We discussed possible mechanisms of how reduced transcription of the para gene or alterations in sodium channel subunit composition might be indicated by the para JS1 mutation and implications for para 3′ UTR function. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2007