Use of insecticides and repellents to control insect vectors is an important strategy for fighting some of the most devastating human diseases, such as malaria. Many insecticides and insect repellents used today target components of the insect nervous system, such as voltage-gated sodium channels and the olfaction system. Two decades ago, a sodium channel-like gene, called DSC1 (Drosophila sodium channel 1), was cloned from Drosophila melanogaster. Although for nearly two decades DSC1 had been thought to encode a voltage-gated sodium channel based on its sequence similarity to sodium channels, we recently showed that DSC1 and its orthologue in cockroach, BSC1, encode the founding members of a novel family of voltage-gated cation channels. Our recent gene knockout experiments suggest that DSC1 plays a crucial role in modulating D. melanogaster sensitivity to DEET (an insect repellent) and deltamethrin (a pyrethroid insecticide), implicating DSC1-family cation channels as important players in insect neurophysiology and toxicology. The long-term goal of this project is to reach a comprehensive understanding of the role of the DSC1 family of cation channels in modulating insect neuronal circuitry and sensitivity to insecticides, attractants, and repellents. An integrated molecular, electrophysiological, pharmacological, and genetic approach will be taken to achieve this goal.
Specific aims of the proposed grant period are: 1) molecular and electrophysiological characterization of the DSC1 family of cation channels;2) determination of the role of the DSC1 family of cation channels in insect chemosensation and neurotoxicology;and 3) understanding the role of the DSC1 channel in modulating specific neural circuits. This basic research should enhance our fundamental knowledge of the role of a newly discovered family of ion channels in insect neurophysiology and toxicology. Results could provide a basis for future development of a new generation of insecticides or new methods to enhance the efficacy of currently used insecticides, attractants, or repellents.

Public Health Relevance

Development of new strategies for effective control of insect vectors of human diseases, including malaria, is urgently needed. This proposal is aimed at understanding the role of a new family of insect ion channels in neurophysiology and neurotoxicology. This research has the potential to provide a basis for future development of a new generation of insecticides or new methods to enhance the efficacy of currently used insecticides, attractants, or repellents.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM080255-03
Application #
8047944
Study Section
Vector Biology Study Section (VB)
Program Officer
Hagan, Ann A
Project Start
2009-04-01
Project End
2013-03-31
Budget Start
2011-04-01
Budget End
2012-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$280,515
Indirect Cost
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Zoology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
Xing, Xiaomin; Wu, Chun-Fang (2018) Unraveling Synaptic GCaMP Signals: Differential Excitability and Clearance Mechanisms Underlying Distinct Ca2+ Dynamics in Tonic and Phasic Excitatory, and Aminergic Modulatory Motor Terminals in Drosophila. eNeuro 5:
Ruan, Hongyu; Ueda, Atsushi; Xing, Xiaomin et al. (2017) Generation and characterization of new alleles of quiver (qvr) that encodes an extracellular modulator of the Shaker potassium channel. J Neurogenet 31:325-336
Hu, Zhaonong; Du, Yuzhe; Xiao, Xinmin et al. (2016) Insight into the Mode of Action of Haedoxan A from Phryma leptostachya. Toxins (Basel) 8:53
Kaas, Garrett A; Kasuya, Junko; Lansdon, Patrick et al. (2016) Lithium-Responsive Seizure-Like Hyperexcitability Is Caused by a Mutation in the Drosophila Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Gene paralytic. eNeuro 3:
Rinkevich, Frank D; Du, Yuzhe; Tolinski, Josh et al. (2015) Distinct roles of the DmNav and DSC1 channels in the action of DDT and pyrethroids. Neurotoxicology 47:99-106
Wang, Lingxin; Du, Yuzhe; Nomura, Yoshiko et al. (2015) Distinct modulating effects of TipE-homologs 2-4 on Drosophila sodium channel splice variants. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 60:24-32
Dong, Ke; Du, Yuzhe; Rinkevich, Frank et al. (2015) The Drosophila Sodium Channel 1 (DSC1): The founding member of a new family of voltage-gated cation channels. Pestic Biochem Physiol 120:36-9
Iyengar, Atulya; Wu, Chun-Fang (2014) Flight and seizure motor patterns in Drosophila mutants: simultaneous acoustic and electrophysiological recordings of wing beats and flight muscle activity. J Neurogenet 28:316-28
Rinkevich, Frank D; Du, Yuzhe; Dong, Ke (2013) Diversity and Convergence of Sodium Channel Mutations Involved in Resistance to Pyrethroids. Pestic Biochem Physiol 106:93-100
Oliveira, EugĂȘnio E; Du, Yuzhe; Nomura, Yoshiko et al. (2013) A residue in the transmembrane segment 6 of domain I in insect and mammalian sodium channels regulate differential sensitivities to pyrethroid insecticides. Neurotoxicology 38:42-50

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