title: The Drosophila gene RanBPM functions in the mushroom body to regulate larval behavior.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In vertebrates, Ran-Binding Protein in the Microtubule Organizing Center (RanBPM) appears to function as a scaffolding protein in a variety of signal transduction pathways. In Drosophila, RanBPM is implicated in the regulation of germ line stem cell (GSC) niche organization in the ovary. Here, we addressed the role of RanBPM in nervous system function in the context of Drosophila larval behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report that in Drosophila, RanBPM is required for larval feeding, light-induced changes in locomotion, and viability. RanBPM is highly expressed in the Kenyon cells of the larval mushroom body (MB), a structure well studied for its role in associative learning in Drosophila and other insects. RanBPM mutants do not display major disruption in nervous system morphology besides reduced proliferation. Expression of the RanBPM gene in the Kenyon cells is sufficient to rescue all behavioral phenotypes. Through genetic epistasis experiments, we demonstrate that RanBPM participates with the Drosophila orthologue of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) in the development of neuromuscular junction (NMJ).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrate that the RanBPM gene functions in the MB neurons for larval behavior. Our results suggest a role for this gene in an FMRP-dependent process. Taken together our findings point to a novel role for the MB in larval behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scantlebury
authors.forename: Xiao Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Verónica G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Rodriguez Moncalvo
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camiletti
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zahanova
authors.forename: Aidan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dineen
authors.forename: Ji-Hou
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Ana Regina
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Campos
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000528:radiation effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000528:radiation effects; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000528:radiation effects; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008124:Locomotion / Q000528:radiation effects; D024521:Mushroom Bodies / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C116005:Ran binding protein 9