A mutation of the Drosophila sodium pump alpha subunit gene results in bang-sensitive paralysis.
A bang-sensitive enhancer trap line was isolated in a behavioral screen. The flies show a weak bang-sensitive paralysis, recovering after about 7 s. The P element insert is localized at 93B1-2 on the salivary chromosomes, the site of the (Na+,K+)ATPase alpha subunit gene. Molecular characterization demonstrates that the transposon is inserted into the first intron of this gene. This insertion leads to normal-sized transcripts, but reduced levels of expression. This change is also reflected in lower amounts of a normal-sized alpha subunit protein. Mutant flies show a much greater sensitivity to ouabain, likewise indicating, on a functional level, a reduction in Na+ pump activity. Furthermore, the bang-sensitive behavior can also be mimicked by injecting sublethal doses of ouabain into wild-type flies. The molecular and functional evidence indicates that the insertion has produced a hypomorphic mutation of the (Na+,K+)ATPase alpha subunit gene, opening the way to future studies of the regulation of the Na+ pump.
Schubiger
M
M
Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Feng
Y
Y
Fambrough
D M
DM
Palka
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005796:Genes; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D010243:Paralysis / Q000235:genetics*; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010042:Ouabain; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase