Molecular cloning and characterization of a putative cyclic nucleotide-gated channel from Drosophila melanogaster

We have cloned a cDNA encoding a putative cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) cha nnel from Drosophila melanogaster. The N-terminal half of the predicted pro tein, designated as CNGL, shows a high degree of sequence similarity with t he known CNG channel proteins. CNGL has a long hydrophilic C-terminal stret ch that is absent in other CNG channels. Northern blot analysis revealed th at the messenger RNA (mRNA) corresponding to the size of the cloned cDNA is expressed in Drosophila heads. Immunolocalization studies showed that CNGL is expressed in the brain, including the medulla, lobulla and lobulla plat e, the antennal lobe glomeruli, and mushroom bodies. These results suggest a possible role of the putative CNGL channel in the processing of visual an d olfactory information in the nervous system of Drosophila.