EFFECTS OF MUTANT DROSOPHILA K⁺ CHANNEL SUBUNITS ON HABITUATION OF THE OLFACTORY JUMP RESPONSE

Abstract

The olfactory-jump response assay was used to analyze habituation in Drosophila mutants of potassium (K⁺) channel subunits. As with physiological assays of the giant fiber-mediated escape reflex, mutations at loci that encode K⁺ channel subunits have distinct effects on habituating the olfactory-jump response. The data for slowpoke and ether à go-go indicate similar effects on habituation of the olfactory-jump response and the giant fiber-mediated escape. Habituation in the olfactory jump assay in Hyperkinetic and Shaker mutants was drastically different from the degree of defect in the giant fiber-mediated escape reflex, indicating differential control mechanisms underlying the two forms of non-associative conditioning.

Keywords:

• eag, Hk, Slo, Shab and Sh mutants
• Escape reflex
• Giant fiber pathway
• Invertebrate learning
• Non-associative conditioning

Notes

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