Methods review--use of Drosophila for heart-disease related studies

Ocorr K, Vogler G, Bodmer R. Methods to assess Drosophila heart development, function and aging. Methods. 2014 Apr 12. pii: S1046-2023(14)00133-9. PMID: 24727147.

From the abstract: "In recent years the Drosophila heart has become an established model for many different aspects of human cardiac disease. This model has allowed identification of disease-causing mechanisms underlying congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathies and has permitted the study of underlying genetic, metabolic and age-related contributions to heart function. In this review we discuss methods currently employed in the analysis of the Drosophila heart structure and function ..."

Using the fly to follow up on GWAS. Heart rate study.

den Hoed et al. Identification of heart rate-associated loci and their effects on cardiac conduction and rhythm disorders. Nat Genet. 2013 Jun;45(6):621-31. PMID: 23583979; PMCID: PMC3696959.

From the abstract: "Experimental downregulation of gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster and Danio rerio identified 20 genes at 11 loci that are relevant for heart rate regulation and highlight a role for genes involved in signal transmission, embryonic cardiac development and the pathophysiology of dilated cardiomyopathy, congenital heart failure and/or sudden cardiac death. ... Our findings provide fresh insights into the mechanisms regulating heart rate and identify new therapeutic targets."