Data from: Mutations of the calcium channel gene cacophony suppress seizures in Drosophila

Bang sensitive (BS) Drosophila mutants display characteristic seizure-like
phenotypes resembling, in some aspects, those of human seizure disorders
such as epilepsy. The BS mutant parabss1, caused by a gain-of-function
mutation of the voltage-gated Na+ channel gene, is extremely
seizure-sensitive with phenotypes that have proven difficult to ameliorate
by anti-epileptic drug feeding or by seizure-suppressor mutation. It has
been presented as a model for intractable human epilepsy. Here we show
that cacophony (cacTS2), a mutation of the Drosophila presynaptic Ca++
channel α1 subunit gene, is a particularly potent seizure-suppressor
mutation, reverting seizure-like phenotypes for parabss1 and other BS
mutants. Seizure-like phenotypes for parabss1 may be suppressed by as much
as 90% in double mutant combinations with cacTS2. Unexpectedly, we find
that parabss1 also reciprocally suppresses cacTS2 seizure-like phenotypes.
The cacTS2 mutant displays these seizure-like behaviors and spontaneous
high-frequency action potential firing transiently after exposure to high
temperature. We find that this seizure-like behavior in cacTS2 is
ameliorated by 85% in double mutant combinations with parabss1.