The Drosophila Small Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel Negatively Regulates Nociception.

ABSTRACT: Inhibition of nociceptor activity is important for the prevention of spontaneous pain and hyperalgesia. To identify the critical K⁺ channels that regulate nociceptor excitability, we performed a forward genetic screen using a Drosophila larval nociception paradigm. Knockdown of three K⁺ channel loci, the small conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (SK), seizure, and tiwaz, causes marked hypersensitive nociception behaviors. In more detailed studies of SK, we found that hypersensitive phenotypes can be recapitulated with a genetically null allele. Optical recordings from nociceptive neurons showed a significant increase in mechanically activated Ca²⁺ signals in SK mutant nociceptors. SK is expressed in peripheral neurons, including nociceptive neur

SUBMITTER: Walcott KCE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6454897 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature