Badre & Cooper Reduced Calcium Channel Function in the Drosophila cac TS2 mutant on Vision, Olfaction and Regulation of the Heart Univ of Kentucky, Department of Biology

Previous Work –Drosophila mutants: The mutated gene cac TS2, is a temperature sensitive paralytic allele of Drosophila calcium channel subunit gene (Brooks et al., 2003) –Known Effects: Decrease synaptic transmission at the NMJ (Kawasaki et al., 2004). Role in male courtship behavior (Chan et al., 2002) Role in nerve development (Xing et al. 2005). What are the Cac mutants?

Learning Test - Larvae x 10Before Vision - Learning Part After Light + FRUDark + QUI x 10Before Olfaction - Learning Part After OCT + FRUAM + QUI Gerber et al., 2003 Hendel et al., 2005

Results Learning Vision - 33°C -24 animals -4 trials

Results Learning Olfaction - 33°C -40 animals -2 trials

T-maze - Adults o_o_ o_o_ o_o_ o_o_ o_o_ o_o_ o_o_ o_o_ o_o_ o_o_ o_o_ o_o_ 9.5 cm 20.1 cm 9.5 cm 2.3 cm 1.2 cm

Results – T-maze Vision 1 – Room Temp n = 5

* Results – T-maze Vision 1 – 33°C n = 5

Results – T-maze Vision 2 – Room Temp n = 5

Results – T-maze Vision 2 – 33° C * * n = 5

Results – T-maze Olfaction – Room Temp n = 5

Results – T-maze Olfaction – 33°C * * n = 5

Results Cardiac Activity - Larvae n.s. n = 5

Summary Cac mutants larvae have decreased abilities to learn in both vision and olfaction at higher temperatures. Cac mutants adults have decreased perception in both vision and olfaction at higher temperatures. Cac mutants larvae do not have significantly altered heart rate at higher temperature.

Acknowledgments: Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, Ribble Fellowship, University of Kentucky Undergraduate Research Program, Society for the Promotion of Undergraduate Research. Future Directions I am currently working on electroretinograms and electro-olfactorygrams.