Expression of human PQBP-1 in Drosophila impairs long-term memory and induces abnormal courtship.
Frame shift mutations of the polyglutamine binding protein-1 (PQBP1) gene lead to total or partial truncation of the C-terminal domain (CTD) and cause mental retardation in human patients. Interestingly, normal Drosophila homologue of PQBP-1 lacks CTD. As a model to analyze the molecular network of PQBP-1 affecting intelligence, we generated transgenic flies expressing human PQBP-1 with CTD. Pavlovian olfactory conditioning revealed that the transgenic flies showed disturbance of long-term memory. In addition, they showed abnormal courtship that male flies follow male flies. Abnormal functions of PQBP-1 or its binding partner might be linked to these symptoms.
Yoshimura
Natsue
N
Department of Neuropathology, Medical Research Institute and Center of Excellence Program for Brain Integration and Its Disorders, Tokyo Medical and Dental University 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan.
Horiuchi
Daisuke
D
Shibata
Masao
M
Saitoe
Minoru
M
Qi
Mei-Ling
ML
Okazawa
Hitoshi
H
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D016368:Frameshift Mutation; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C119246:PQBP1 protein, human