title: GABAergic circuit dysfunction in the Drosophila Fragile X syndrome model.
abstract: Fragile X syndrome (FXS), caused by loss of FMR1 gene function, is the most common heritable cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. The FMR1 protein (FMRP) translational regulator mediates activity-dependent control of synapses. In addition to the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) hyperexcitation FXS theory, the GABA theory postulates that hypoinhibition is causative for disease state symptoms. Here, we use the Drosophila FXS model to assay central brain GABAergic circuitry, especially within the Mushroom Body (MB) learning center. All 3 GABAA receptor (GABAAR) subunits are reportedly downregulated in dfmr1 null brains. We demonstrate parallel downregulation of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the rate-limiting GABA synthesis enzyme, although GABAergic cell numbers appear unaffected. Mosaic analysis with a repressible cell marker (MARCM) single-cell clonal studies show that dfmr1 null GABAergic neurons innervating the MB calyx display altered architectural development, with early underdevelopment followed by later overelaboration. In addition, a new class of extra-calyx terminating GABAergic neurons is shown to include MB intrinsic α/β Kenyon Cells (KCs), revealing a novel level of MB inhibitory regulation. Functionally, dfmr1 null GABAergic neurons exhibit elevated calcium signaling and altered kinetics in response to acute depolarization. To test the role of these GABAergic changes, we attempted to pharmacologically restore GABAergic signaling and assay effects on the compromised MB-dependent olfactory learning in dfmr1 mutants, but found no improvement. Our results show that GABAergic circuit structure and function are impaired in the FXS disease state, but that correction of hypoinhibition alone is not sufficient to rescue a behavioral learning impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA. Electronic address: kendal.broadie@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Kendal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Broadie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000235:genetics; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 / Q000235:genetics; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024521:Mushroom Bodies / Q000473:pathology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000503:physiopathology; D013569:Synapses / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
keywords: Associative learning; Calcium signaling; Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP); Glutamic acid decarboxylase; Mushroom Body; Synapse