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Paralytic (gene)
''Paralytic'' is a gene in the fruit fly, ''Drosophila melanogaster'', which encodes a voltage gated sodium channel within ''D. melanogaster'' neurons. This gene is essential for locomotive activity in the fly. There are 9 different ''para'' alleles, composed of a minimum of 26 exons within over 78kb of genomic DNA. The ''para'' gene undergoes alternative splicing to produce subtypes of the channel protein. Flies with mutant forms of ''paralytic'' are used in fly models of seizures, since seizures can be easily induced in these flies. Gene The ''para'' gene is located on the X chromosome within the Drosophila genome. There are 26 ''para'' exons, 13 are constitutively expressed in the transcript, while 15 are alternatively spliced. Alternative splicing allows for the formation of 60 unique transcripts and 57 unique polypeptides. The independent splicing of 11 exons allows for the unique cytoplasmic loops, the alternative splicing also can effect the Na+ channel kinetics, such as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Drosophila Melanogaster
''Drosophila melanogaster'' is a species of fly (the taxonomic order Diptera) in the family Drosophilidae. The species is often referred to as the fruit fly or lesser fruit fly, or less commonly the "vinegar fly" or "pomace fly". Starting with Charles W. Woodworth's 1901 proposal of the use of this species as a model organism, ''D. melanogaster'' continues to be widely used for biological research in genetics, physiology, microbial pathogenesis, and life history evolution. As of 2017, five Nobel Prizes have been awarded to drosophilists for their work using the insect. ''D. melanogaster'' is typically used in research owing to its rapid life cycle, relatively simple genetics with only four pairs of chromosomes, and large number of offspring per generation. It was originally an African species, with all non-African lineages having a common origin. Its geographic range includes all continents, including islands. ''D. melanogaster'' is a common pest in homes, restaurants, and othe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
