Frolov Roman V, Bagati Archis, Casino Brittany, Singh Satpal
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14214-3000, USA.
J Neurogenet. 2012 Sep;26(3-4):275-90. doi: 10.3109/01677063.2012.744990.
Drosophila has enabled important breakthroughs in K(+) channel research, including identification and fi rst cloning of a voltage-activated K(+) channel, Shaker, a founding member of the K(V)1 family. Drosophila has also helped in discovering other K(+) channels, such as Shab, Shaw, Shal, Eag, Sei, Elk, and also Slo, a Ca(2+) - and voltage-dependent K(+) channel. These findings have contributed significantly to our understanding of ion channels and their role in physiology. Drosophila continues to play an important role in ion channel studies, benefiting from an unparalleled arsenal of genetic tools and availability of tens of thousands of genetically modified strains. These tools allow deletion, expression, or misexpression of almost any gene in question with temporal and spatial control. The combination of these tools and resources with the use of forward genetic approach in Drosophila further enhances its strength as a model system. There are many areas in which Drosophila can further help our understanding of ion channels and their function. These include signaling pathways involved in regulating and modulating ion channels, basic information on channels and currents where very little is currently known, and the role of ion channels in physiology and pathology.
果蝇在钾离子通道研究中取得了重要突破，包括电压激活钾离子通道Shaker的鉴定和首次克隆，Shaker是K(V)1家族的创始成员。果蝇还助力发现了其他钾离子通道，如Shab、Shaw、Shal、Eag、Sei、Elk，以及一种钙和电压依赖性钾离子通道Slo。这些发现极大地促进了我们对离子通道及其在生理学中作用的理解。果蝇凭借其无与伦比的一系列遗传工具以及数以万计的转基因品系，在离子通道研究中持续发挥重要作用。这些工具能够在时间和空间上对几乎任何目标基因进行缺失、表达或错误表达操作。这些工具和资源与果蝇中正向遗传学方法的结合，进一步增强了其作为模型系统的优势。在许多领域，果蝇能够进一步帮助我们理解离子通道及其功能。这些领域包括参与调节和调控离子通道的信号通路、目前所知甚少的关于通道和电流的基础信息，以及离子通道在生理学和病理学中的作用。
