Replication of seizure-suppressing effects of alpha-linolenic acid on the Drosophila melanogaster paraShudderer mutant

Voltage-gated sodium channels are essential for healthy nervous system function. Mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels are associated with a range of seizure conditions. The genetics of seizure conditions are complex and often challenging to study or replicate in animal models. The Drosophila melanogaster gene paralytic (para) is the sole voltage-gated sodium channel gene in flies. The paraShudderer allele causes dominant seizure activity manifest in adult morphology and behavior. In this study we replicated previous findings of paraShudderer hyperexcitability and the ability to suppress this activity with dietary supplementation of an omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Our results support the robustness of the paraShudderer phenotype and the replicability of findings across separate lab environments.