BKCa (Slo) channel regulates the cardiac function of Drosophila
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; McIntosh Activities Room
Start Date
21-4-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
21-4-2023 12:50 PM
Abstract
BKCa (Slo) channel regulates the cardiac function of Drosophila
Castin Schluz, Sarah Seeley and Shubha Gururaja Rao
Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH 45810
The large conductance, calcium, and voltage-active potassium channels (BKCa) were originally discovered in Drosophila melanogaster as slowpoke (slo). They are extensively characterized as ion channels for their roles in neurological and muscular function, as well as aging using fly models. BKCa is known to modulate the cardiac rhythm and has been localized to mitochondria. Activation of mitochondrial BKCa causes cardioprotection from ischemia-reperfusion injury possibly via modulating mitochondrial function in adult animal models. However, the role of BKCa in cardiac function is not well-characterized partially due to their localization to the plasma membrane as well as intracellular membranes as well as a wide array of cells present in mammalian hearts. Here we demonstrate for the first time the direct role of BKCa in cardiac function and cardioprotection from IR injury using the Drosophila model system. We have also discovered that the BKCa channel plays a direct role in the functioning of aging hearts. BKCa mutants also show increased size of cardiac fibers. Our study for the first time establishes the presence of BKCa in the fly heart and ascertains its role in aging heart function.
Recommended Citation
Schluz, Castin; Seeley, Sarah; and Gururaja Rao, Shubha, "BKCa (Slo) channel regulates the cardiac function of Drosophila" (2023). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 24.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2023/posters/24
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BKCa (Slo) channel regulates the cardiac function of Drosophila
ONU McIntosh Center; McIntosh Activities Room
BKCa (Slo) channel regulates the cardiac function of Drosophila
Castin Schluz, Sarah Seeley and Shubha Gururaja Rao
Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH 45810
The large conductance, calcium, and voltage-active potassium channels (BKCa) were originally discovered in Drosophila melanogaster as slowpoke (slo). They are extensively characterized as ion channels for their roles in neurological and muscular function, as well as aging using fly models. BKCa is known to modulate the cardiac rhythm and has been localized to mitochondria. Activation of mitochondrial BKCa causes cardioprotection from ischemia-reperfusion injury possibly via modulating mitochondrial function in adult animal models. However, the role of BKCa in cardiac function is not well-characterized partially due to their localization to the plasma membrane as well as intracellular membranes as well as a wide array of cells present in mammalian hearts. Here we demonstrate for the first time the direct role of BKCa in cardiac function and cardioprotection from IR injury using the Drosophila model system. We have also discovered that the BKCa channel plays a direct role in the functioning of aging hearts. BKCa mutants also show increased size of cardiac fibers. Our study for the first time establishes the presence of BKCa in the fly heart and ascertains its role in aging heart function.