The Drosophila gene RanBPM functions in the mushroom body to regulate larval behavior.
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.
Scantlebury
Nadia
N
Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Zhao
Xiao Li
XL
Rodriguez Moncalvo
Verónica G
VG
Camiletti
Alison
A
Zahanova
Stacy
S
Dineen
Aidan
A
Xin
Ji-Hou
JH
Campos
Ana Regina
AR
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
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