35th Annual Student Research Conference
Drosophila Cyp1 Regulates Larval Behavior and Toxin Sensitivity
Evan J. Clark*, Carol Coob, Kara Sargent, and Elizabeth K. Collier
Dr. Brett A. Berke, Faculty Mentor
Cyclophilin 1 (Cyp1) is the Drosophila version of human CypD, which opens a mitochondrial pore, causing cell death. The two proteins are highly identical (87%) and both localize to mitochondria. Similar to CypD, the Cyp1 protein modulates the sensitivity to cyclosporine A (CsA); a Cyp1 mutant is less susceptible to CsA concentrations that are lethal in the control. Knocking Cyp1 down in all cells also alters larval crawling, disrupting forward movement with periods of head swings. This same phenotype was observed in larvae with a neuron- or glial-specific knockdown (glia are other cells of the nervous system). We are currently identifying which glial populations regulate larval crawling. The glia that tightly wrap axons to improve cellular communication are not involved. Cyp1 mutations also increase synaptic size at the larval neuromuscular junction, leading us to investigate how Cyp1-containing mitochondria behave and function at this synapse.
Keywords: Drosophila, Cyclophilin, Animal Behavior, Cyclosporine A, Mitochondria
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Session: 2-10
Location: SUB Activities Room
Time: 3:00