Premium
The Behavioral Effects of Omitting the α1T gene in Drosophila
Author(s) -
Tran Kristen,
Cheng Ryan,
Luu Richard,
Iniguez Jorge
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2020.34.s1.02551
Subject(s) - drosophila (subgenus) , odor , neuroscience , biology , gene , neurotransmitter , drosophila melanogaster , sensory system , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , genetics , central nervous system
Voltage gated calcium channels regulate calcium influx and vesicular release of neurotransmitter at chemical synapses. In Drosophila, there are three genes, Dmca1D, 1A, and α1T encoding Cav1, Cav2 and Cav3‐type channels respectively. Studies have shown that the α1T channels are important in regulation of action potential firing in Drosophila at the neuromuscular junction and the central nervous system. The α1T has been shown to be expressed across the adult fly brain. These include sensory neuropils, motor‐associated neuropils, and neuropils associated with learning and memory. We explored the role the α1T gene in adult Drosophila plays in motor‐associated activity using a locomotor assay. Our data suggests that the α1T gene knockout results in a defect in regulating excitability in adult Drosophila that manifests in altered motor activity. Using a T‐maze assay, the Drosophila are exposed to two different odors separately: 3‐Octanol with no electric current, and 4‐Methylcyclohexanol (MCH) administered with electric currents. Exposure to MCH with electric currents will create a negative association towards MCH and condition the flies to favor 3‐Octanol. The flies without the α1T gene are expected to be greatly impacted in their capability to build a negative connotation towards MCH, when compared to flies with the α1T gene. Support or Funding Information Build PoderNational Institute of HealthPasadena City CollegeT‐Maze This figure illustrates how the Drosophila will favor the 3‐Octanol odor over the 4‐Methylcyclohexanol (MCH) odor.