Transcription analysis of the para gene by in situ hybridization and immunological characterization of its expression product in wild-type and mutant strains of Drosophila.

In Drosophila, the para gene has been shown to encode a functional voltage-dependent sodium channel. We used a cDNA clone to study the distribution of its transcripts by in situ mRNA hybridization on adult fly sections. These transcripts are found in cortical regions of the central nervous system and in the eyes. On immunoblots, antibodies raised against expression products of part of the gene recognize a polypeptide of M(r) approximately 270,000 in head membranes. Immunolocalization experiments indicate that anti-para antibodies bind to cortical regions of the brain and give heavy signals in the eyes. Immunohistochemistry was also performed on napts and seits1, two mutant Drosophila strains known to be defective in sodium channel activity. Only napts flies displayed a decrease in the expression of the para protein.