Potassium Channels in Drosophila: Historical Breakthroughs, Significance, and Perspectives

Drosophila has enabled important breakthroughs in K+ channel research, including identification and first cloning of a voltage-activated K+ channel, Shaker, a founding member of the K(V)1 family. Drosophila has also helped in discovering other K+ channels, such as Shab, Shaw, Shal, Eag, Sei, Elk, and also Slo, a Ca2+- and voltage-dependent K+ channel. These findings have contributed significantly to our understanding of ion channels and their role in physiology. Drosophila continues to play an important role in ion channel studies, benefiting from an unparalleled arsenal of genetic tools and availability of tens of thousands of genetically modified strains. These tools allow deletion, expression, or misexpression of almost any gene in question with temporal and spatial control. The combination of these tools and resources with the use of forward genetic approach in Drosophila further enhances its strength as a model system. There are many areas in which Drosophila can further help our understanding of ion channels and their function. These include signaling pathways involved in regulating and modulating ion channels, basic information on channels and currents where very little is currently known, and the role of ion channels in physiology and pathology.