title: Cholesterol-depleting compounds modulate K+-currents in Drosophila Kenyon cells.
abstract: Sterol-enriched lipid rafts have been involved in Drosophila membrane signalling such as Hedgehog targeting and glutamate receptor ligand-affinity regulation. Here, we show that the voltage-dependent K(+) currents expressed by the intrinsic neurons of the Mushroom bodies are upward-modulated by compounds that remove sterols from the plasma membrane. Modulation seems to rely on a fast-exchanging sterol-pool, which more strongly affects the slowly inactivating current. Our results provide the first evidence that sterols influence the operation of voltage-gated ion channels in Drosophila neurons and strengthen the importance of lipid rafts in this biological model.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, México.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasque
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Labarca
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darszon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D024521:Mushroom Bodies / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000378:metabolism*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000494:pharmacology; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; C108732:methyl-beta-cyclodextrin; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D002784:Cholesterol; D011188:Potassium