Drosophila Orb2 targets genes involved in neuronal growth, synapse formation, and protein turnover.
In the study of long-term memory, how memory persists is a fundamental and unresolved question. What are the molecular components of the long-lasting memory trace? Previous studies in Aplysia and Drosophila have found that a neuronal variant of a RNA-binding protein with a self-perpetuating prion-like property, cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein, is required for the persistence of long-term synaptic facilitation in the snail and long-term memory in the fly. In this study, we have identified the mRNA targets of the Drosophila neuronal cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein, Orb2. These Orb2 targets include genes involved in neuronal growth, synapse formation, and intriguingly, protein turnover. These targets suggest that the persistent form of the memory trace might be comprised of molecules that maintain a sustained, permissive environment for synaptic growth in an activated synapse.
Mastushita-Sakai
Tomoko
T
Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA.
White-Grindley
Erica
E
Samuelson
Jessica
J
Seidel
Chris
C
Si
Kausik
K
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017344:Genes, Insect; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D039221:mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D017931:DNA Primers; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C529066:Orb2 protein, Drosophila; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D039221:mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors