Tequila, a neurotrypsin ortholog, regulates long-term memory formation in Drosophila.
Mutations in the human neurotrypsin gene are associated with autosomal recessive mental retardation. To further understand the pathophysiological consequences of the lack of this serine protease, we studied Tequila (Teq), the Drosophila neurotrypsin ortholog, using associative memory as a behavioral readout. We found that teq inactivation resulted in a long-term memory (LTM)-specific defect. After LTM conditioning of wild-type flies, teq expression transiently increased in the mushroom bodies. Moreover, specific inhibition of teq expression in adult mushroom bodies resulted in a reversible LTM defect. Hence, the Teq pathway is essential for information processing in Drosophila.
Didelot
Gérard
G
Gènes et Dynamique des Systèmes de Mémoire, UMR CNRS 7637, Ecole Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles, 10 Rue Vauquelin 75005 Paris, France.
Molinari
Florence
F
Tchénio
Paul
P
Comas
Daniel
D
Milhiet
Elodie
E
Munnich
Arnold
A
Colleaux
Laurence
L
Preat
Thomas
T
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008568:Memory; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D023421:Models, Animal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D024521:Mushroom Bodies / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D009812:Odorants; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015735:Mifepristone; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C512782:Teq protein, Drosophila; C108493:neurotrypsin