Mutational Analysis of Potassium Currents in Drosophila

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9604457 Singh These studies are aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the function and regulation of potassium currents, which are important for many cellular functions. Larval muscles of Drosophila have two voltage activated and two calcium activated potassium currents. Two of these channels have been investigated with mutations that selectively disrupt them. This investigator has identified 6 mutations in the other channels: the Z66 mutant which disrupts IK, and P40 which affects IA. This project will clone and sequence these genes. This information will indicate the nature of the gene products and whether they are structural subunits of the channels or regulators of them. Electrophysiological studies will also be done with the P40 mutant to confirm the mapping of this gene, and provide information on the functioning of IA channels. These studies will provide important information to aid our understanding of these potassium channels. %%% K+ channels play a key role in a wide variety of cellular processes. With an excellent repertoire of available genetic tools, Drosophila is useful in the study of many biological phenomena including ion channel function. The result of this research will aid in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the function and regulation of potassium channels. ***