Metabolic disruption in Drosophila bang-sensitive seizure mutants

Genetics. 2006 Jul;173(3):1357-64. doi: 10.1534/genetics.106.057463. Epub 2006 Apr 28.

Abstract

We examined a number of Drosophila mutants with increased susceptibility to seizures following mechanical or electrical stimulation to better understand the underlying factors that predispose neurons to aberrant activity. Several mutations in this class have been molecularly identified and suggest metabolic disruption as a possible source for increased seizure susceptibility. We mapped the bang-sensitive seizure mutation knockdown (kdn) to cytological position 5F3 and identified citrate synthase as the affected gene. These results further support a role for mitochondrial metabolism in controlling neuronal activity and seizure susceptibility. Biochemical analysis in bang-sensitive mutants revealed reductions in ATP levels consistent with disruption of mitochondrial energy production in these mutants. Electrophysiological analysis of mutants affecting mitochondrial proteins revealed an increased likelihood for a specific pattern of seizure activity. Our data implicate cellular metabolism in regulating seizure susceptibility and suggest that differential sensitivity of neuronal subtypes to metabolic changes underlies distinct types of seizure activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Citrate (si)-Synthase / genetics*
  • Citrate (si)-Synthase / metabolism
  • Drosophila / genetics*
  • Drosophila / metabolism
  • Electrophysiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Phenotype
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Citrate (si)-Synthase