Genetic and Developmental Characterization of Dmca1D, a Calcium Channel ₁ Subunit Gene in Drosophila melanogaster

Corresponding author: Linda M. Hall, Department of Biochemical Pharmacology, 329 Hochstetter Hall, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260-1200, lmhall{at}acsu.buffalo.edu (E-mail).

Communicating editor: V. G. FINNERTY

To begin unraveling the functional significance of calcium channel diversity, we identified mutations in Dmca1D, a Drosophila calcium channel ₁ subunit cDNA that we recently cloned. These mutations constitute the l(2)35Fa lethal locus, which we rename Dmca1D. A severe allele, Dmca1D ^X10, truncates the channel after the IV-S4 transmembrane domain. These mutants die as late embryos because they lack vigorous hatching movements. In the weaker allele, Dmca1D ^AR66, a cysteine in transmembrane domain I-S1 is changed to tyrosine. Dmca1D ^AR66 embryos hatch but pharate adults have difficulty eclosing. Those that do eclose have difficulty in fluid-filling of the wings. These studies show that this member of the calcium channel ₁ subunit gene family plays a nonredundant, vital role in larvae and adults.

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