KCNQ potassium channel mutations cause cardiac arrhythmias in Drosophila that mimic the effects of aging.

ABSTRACT: Population profiles of industrialized countries show dramatic increases in cardiovascular disease with age, but the molecular and genetic basis of disease progression has been difficult to study because of the lack of suitable model systems. Our studies of Drosophila show a markedly elevated incidence of cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmias in aging fruit fly hearts and a concomitant decrease in the expression of the Drosophila homolog of human KCNQ1-encoded K(+) channel alpha subunits. In humans, this channel is involved in myocardial repolarization, and alterations in the function of this channel are associated with an increased risk for Torsades des Pointes arrhythmias and sudden death. Hearts from young KCNQ1 mutant fruit flies exhibit prolonged contractions and fibrillations reminiscen

SUBMITTER: Ocorr K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1820688 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature