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Delescluse J, Simonnet MM, Ziegler AB, Piffaretti K, Alves G, Grosjean Y, Manière G. A LAT1-Like Amino Acid Transporter Regulates Neuronal Activity in the Drosophila Mushroom Bodies. Cells 2024; 13:1340. [PMID: 39195231 DOI: 10.3390/cells13161340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The proper functioning of neural circuits that integrate sensory signals is essential for individual adaptation to an ever-changing environment. Many molecules can modulate neuronal activity, including neurotransmitters, receptors, and even amino acids. Here, we ask whether amino acid transporters expressed by neurons can influence neuronal activity. We found that minidiscs (mnd), which encodes a light chain of a heterodimeric amino acid transporter, is expressed in different cell types of the adult Drosophila brain: in mushroom body neurons (MBs) and in glial cells. Using live calcium imaging, we found that MND expressed in α/β MB neurons is essential for sensitivity to the L-amino acids: Leu, Ile, Asp, Glu, Lys, Thr, and Arg. We found that the Target Of Rapamycin (TOR) pathway but not the Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GDH) pathway is involved in the Leucine-dependent response of α/β MB neurons. This study strongly supports the key role of MND in regulating MB activity in response to amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Delescluse
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAe, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Mégane M Simonnet
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAe, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Anna B Ziegler
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAe, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne, F-21000 Dijon, France
- Institute for Neuro- and Behavioral Biology, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Kévin Piffaretti
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAe, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Georges Alves
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAe, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Yael Grosjean
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAe, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Gérard Manière
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAe, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne, F-21000 Dijon, France
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Seljeset S, Sintsova O, Wang Y, Harb HY, Lynagh T. Constitutive activity of ionotropic glutamate receptors via hydrophobic substitutions in the ligand-binding domain. Structure 2024; 32:966-978.e6. [PMID: 38677289 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Neurotransmitter ligands electrically excite neurons by activating ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) ion channels. Knowledge of the iGluR amino acid residues that dominate ligand-induced activation would enable the prediction of function from sequence. We therefore explored the molecular determinants of activity in rat N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type iGluRs (NMDA receptors), complex heteromeric iGluRs comprising two glycine-binding GluN1 and two glutamate-binding GluN2 subunits, using amino acid sequence analysis, mutagenesis, and electrophysiology. We find that a broadly conserved aspartate residue controls both ligand potency and channel activity, to the extent that certain substitutions at this position bypass the need for ligand binding in GluN1 subunits, generating NMDA receptors activated solely by glutamate. Furthermore, we identify a homomeric iGluR from the placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens that has utilized native mutations of this crucial residue to evolve into a leak channel that is inhibited by neurotransmitter binding, pointing to a dominant role of this residue throughout the iGluR superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Seljeset
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Oksana Sintsova
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Yuhong Wang
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Hassan Y Harb
- Concept Life Sciences Limited, Frith Knoll Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith, SK23 0PG High Peak, UK
| | - Timothy Lynagh
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, 5008 Bergen, Norway.
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3
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Viragh E, Asztalos L, Fenckova M, Szlanka T, Gyorgypal Z, Kovacs K, IntHout J, Cizek P, Konda M, Szucs E, Zvara A, Biro J, Csapo E, Lukacsovich T, Hegedus Z, Puskas L, Schenck A, Asztalos Z. Pre-Pulse Inhibition of an escape response in adult fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3853873. [PMID: 38343805 PMCID: PMC10854311 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3853873/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Pre-Pulse Inhibition (PPI) is a neural process where suppression of a startle response is elicited by preceding the startling stimulus (Pulse) with a weak, non-startling one (Pre-Pulse). Defective PPI is widely employed as a behavioural endophenotype in humans and mammalian disorder-relevant models for neuropsychiatric disorders. We have developed a user-friendly, semi-automated, high-throughput-compatible Drosophila light-off jump response PPI paradigm, with which we demonstrate that PPI, with similar parameters measured in mammals, exists in adults of this model organism. We report that Drosophila PPI is affected by reduced expression of Dysbindin and both reduced and increased expression of Nmdar1 (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1), perturbations associated with schizophrenia. Studying the biology of PPI in an organism that offers a plethora of genetic tools and a complex and well characterized connectome will greatly facilitate our efforts to gain deeper insight into the aetiology of human mental disorders, while reducing the need for mammalian models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Viragh
- Institute of Biochemistry, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- Aktogen Hungary Ltd., Szeged, Hungary
| | - Lenke Asztalos
- Aktogen Hungary Ltd., Szeged, Hungary
- Aktogen Ltd., Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Current address: Aktogen Ltd. Ramsey, Huntingdon, United Kingdom
| | - Michaela Fenckova
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Tamas Szlanka
- Institute of Biochemistry, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- Aktogen Hungary Ltd., Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Gyorgypal
- Institute of Biophysics & Core Facilities, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Karoly Kovacs
- Institute of Biochemistry, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- HCEMM-BRC Metabolic Systems Biology Lab, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Joanna IntHout
- Department for Health Evidence (HEV), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Pavel Cizek
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Mihaly Konda
- Aktogen Hungary Ltd., Szeged, Hungary
- Voalaz Ltd., Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Agnes Zvara
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre Szeged, Hungary
| | | | | | | | - Zoltan Hegedus
- Institute of Biophysics & Core Facilities, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Laszlo Puskas
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre Szeged, Hungary
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Zoltan Asztalos
- Institute of Biochemistry, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- Aktogen Hungary Ltd., Szeged, Hungary
- Aktogen Ltd., Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Current address: Aktogen Ltd. Ramsey, Huntingdon, United Kingdom
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Miyashita T, Murakami K, Kikuchi E, Ofusa K, Mikami K, Endo K, Miyaji T, Moriyama S, Konno K, Muratani H, Moriyama Y, Watanabe M, Horiuchi J, Saitoe M. Glia transmit negative valence information during aversive learning in Drosophila. Science 2023; 382:eadf7429. [PMID: 38127757 DOI: 10.1126/science.adf7429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
During Drosophila aversive olfactory conditioning, aversive shock information needs to be transmitted to the mushroom bodies (MBs) to associate with odor information. We report that aversive information is transmitted by ensheathing glia (EG) that surround the MBs. Shock induces vesicular exocytosis of glutamate from EG. Blocking exocytosis impairs aversive learning, whereas activation of EG can replace aversive stimuli during conditioning. Glutamate released from EG binds to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors in the MBs, but because of Mg2+ block, Ca2+ influx occurs only when flies are simultaneously exposed to an odor. Vesicular exocytosis from EG also induces shock-associated dopamine release, which plays a role in preventing formation of inappropriate associations. These results demonstrate that vesicular glutamate released from EG transmits negative valence information required for associative learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyuki Miyashita
- Learning and Memory Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Kanako Murakami
- Learning and Memory Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Emi Kikuchi
- Learning and Memory Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Kyouko Ofusa
- Learning and Memory Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Kyohei Mikami
- Center for Basic Technology Research, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Kentaro Endo
- Center for Basic Technology Research, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Takaaki Miyaji
- Department of Molecular Membrane Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- Department of Genomics and Proteomics, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Sawako Moriyama
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
| | - Kotaro Konno
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8368, Japan
| | - Hinako Muratani
- Learning and Memory Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
- Department of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Moriyama
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8368, Japan
| | - Junjiro Horiuchi
- Center for Basic Technology Research, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Minoru Saitoe
- Learning and Memory Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
- Center for Basic Technology Research, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
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Yamazaki D, Maeyama Y, Tabata T. Combinatory Actions of Co-transmitters in Dopaminergic Systems Modulate Drosophila Olfactory Memories. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8294-8305. [PMID: 37429719 PMCID: PMC10711700 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2152-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine neurons (DANs) are extensively studied in the context of associative learning, in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In the acquisition of male and female Drosophila olfactory memory, the PAM cluster of DANs provides the reward signal, and the PPL1 cluster of DANs sends the punishment signal to the Kenyon cells (KCs) of mushroom bodies, the center for memory formation. However, thermo-genetical activation of the PPL1 DANs after memory acquisition impaired aversive memory, and that of the PAM DANs impaired appetitive memory. We demonstrate that the knockdown of glutamate decarboxylase, which catalyzes glutamate conversion to GABA in PAM DANs, potentiated the appetitive memory. In addition, the knockdown of glutamate transporter in PPL1 DANs potentiated aversive memory, suggesting that GABA and glutamate co-transmitters act in an inhibitory manner in olfactory memory formation. We also found that, in γKCs, the Rdl receptor for GABA and the mGluR DmGluRA mediate the inhibition. Although multiple-spaced training is required to form long-term aversive memory, a single cycle of training was sufficient to develop long-term memory when the glutamate transporter was knocked down, in even a single subset of PPL1 DANs. Our results suggest that the mGluR signaling pathway may set a threshold for memory acquisition to allow the organisms' behaviors to adapt to changing physiological conditions and environments.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In the acquisition of olfactory memory in Drosophila, the PAM cluster of dopamine neurons (DANs) mediates the reward signal, while the PPL1 cluster of DANs conveys the punishment signal to the Kenyon cells of the mushroom bodies, which serve as the center for memory formation. We found that GABA co-transmitters in the PAM DANs and glutamate co-transmitters in the PPL1 DANs inhibit olfactory memory formation. Our findings demonstrate that long-term memory acquisition, which typically necessitates multiple-spaced training sessions to establish aversive memory, can be triggered with a single training cycle in cases where the glutamate co-transmission is inhibited, even within a single subset of PPL1 DANs, suggesting that the glutamate co-transmission may modulate the threshold for memory acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Yamazaki
- Institute of Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Yuko Maeyama
- Institute of Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tabata
- Institute of Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
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6
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Tian Z, Cao Z, Yang E, Li J, Liao D, Wang F, Wang T, Zhang Z, Zhang H, Jiang X, Li X, Luo P. Quantitative proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses of the hippocampus reveal the involvement of NMDAR1 signaling in repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:2711-2719. [PMID: 37449635 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.374654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The cumulative damage caused by repetitive mild traumatic brain injury can cause long-term neurodegeneration leading to cognitive impairment. This cognitive impairment is thought to result specifically from damage to the hippocampus. In this study, we detected cognitive impairment in mice 6 weeks after repetitive mild traumatic brain injury using the novel object recognition test and the Morris water maze test. Immunofluorescence staining showed that p-tau expression was increased in the hippocampus after repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. Golgi staining showed a significant decrease in the total density of neuronal dendritic spines in the hippocampus, as well as in the density of mature dendritic spines. To investigate the specific molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment due to hippocampal damage, we performed proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses of the hippocampus with and without repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. The differentially expressed proteins were mainly enriched in inflammation, immunity, and coagulation, suggesting that non-neuronal cells are involved in the pathological changes that occur in the hippocampus in the chronic stage after repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. In contrast, differentially expressed phosphorylated proteins were mainly enriched in pathways related to neuronal function and structure, which is more consistent with neurodegeneration. We identified N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 as a hub molecule involved in the response to repetitive mild traumatic brain injury , and western blotting showed that, while N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 expression was not altered in the hippocampus after repetitive mild traumatic brain injury, its phosphorylation level was significantly increased, which is consistent with the omics results. Administration of GRP78608, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 antagonist, to the hippocampus markedly improved repetitive mild traumatic brain injury-induced cognitive impairment. In conclusion, our findings suggest that N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 signaling in the hippocampus is involved in cognitive impairment in the chronic stage after repetitive mild traumatic brain injury and may be a potential target for intervention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Tian
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Zixuan Cao
- The Sixth Regiment, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Erwan Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Dan Liao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an; Medical Experiment Center, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Taozhi Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province; Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Zhuoyuan Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University; School of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Haofuzi Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xiaofan Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
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Dhungana P, Wei X, Meuti M, Sim C. Identification of CYCLE targets that contribute diverse features of circadian rhythms in the mosquito Culex pipiens. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2023; 48:101140. [PMID: 37690215 PMCID: PMC10841209 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Culex pipiens demonstrates robust circadian rhythms in adult eclosion, flight activity, mating, and development. These rhythmic patterns are believed to be controlled by the endogenous light-entrainable circadian clock that consists of positive and negative regulators working in a transcription-translation feedback loop. Moreover, these mosquitoes undergo seasonal diapause in exposure to the short photoperiod of late summer or early fall. However, the exact genetic and cellular mechanism behind the clock gene-mediated activity pattern, seasonal time measurement, and subsequent diapause initiation still need to be unraveled. To determine the possible linkage between clock genes and downstream processes, here we employed ChIP-sequencing to identify the direct targets of one of the core clock proteins, Cycle (CYC). The nearest genes with peaks mapping to their 1Kb upstream region of the transcription start site were extracted and scanned for consensus E box sequences, resulting in a dataset comprising the target genes possibly regulated by CYC. Based on the highest fold enrichment and functional relevance, we identified genes relating to five gene categories of potential interest, including peptide/receptors, neurotransmission, olfaction, immunity, and reproductive growth. Of these, we validated fourteen genes with ChIP-qPCR and qRT-PCR. These genes showed a significantly high expression in dusk compared to dawn in concert with the activity level of the CYC transcription factor and are thus strong candidates for mediating circadian rhythmicity and possibly regulating seasonal shifts in mosquito reproductive activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabin Dhungana
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA. https://twitter.com/@Prabin_988
| | - Xueyan Wei
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Megan Meuti
- Department of Entomology, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. https://twitter.com/@MeganMeuti
| | - Cheolho Sim
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA.
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Bhatnagar A, Parmar V, Barbieri N, Bearoff F, Elefant F, Kortagere S. Novel EAAT2 activators improve motor and cognitive impairment in a transgenic model of Huntington's disease. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1176777. [PMID: 37351153 PMCID: PMC10282606 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1176777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Glutamate excitotoxicity is causal in striatal neurodegeneration underlying motor dysfunction and cognitive deficits in Huntington's disease (HD). Excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2), the predominant glutamate transporter accounting for >90% of glutamate transport, plays a key role in preventing excitotoxicity by clearing excess glutamate from the intrasynaptic cleft. Accordingly, EAAT2 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for prevention of neuronal excitotoxicity underlying HD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Methods We have previously designed novel EAAT2 positive allosteric modulator GT951, GTS467, and GTS551, with low nanomolar efficacy in glutamate uptake and favorable pharmacokinetic properties. In this study, we test the neuroprotective abilities of these novel EAAT2 activators in vivo using the robust Drosophila HD transgenic model expressing human huntingtin gene with expanded repeats (Htt128Q). Results All three compounds significantly restored motor function impaired under HD pathology over a wide dose range. Additionally, treatment with all three compounds significantly improved HD-associated olfactory associative learning and short-term memory defects, while GT951 and GTS551 also improved middle-term memory in low-performing group. Similarly, treatment with GT951 and GTS551 partially protected against early mortality observed in our HD model. Further, treatment with all three EAAT2 activators induced epigenetic expression of EAAT2 Drosophila homolog and several cognition-associated genes. Conclusion Together, these results highlight the efficacy of GT951, GTS467 and GTS551 in treating motor and cognitive impairments under HD pathology and support their development for treatment of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Bhatnagar
- Department of Biology, Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Visha Parmar
- Department of Biology, Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Nicholas Barbieri
- Department of Biology, Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Frank Bearoff
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Felice Elefant
- Department of Biology, Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sandhya Kortagere
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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9
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Huang J, Wang T, Qiu Y, Hassanyar AK, Zhang Z, Sun Q, Ni X, Yu K, Guo Y, Yang C, Lü Y, Nie H, Lin Y, Li Z, Su S. Differential Brain Expression Patterns of microRNAs Related to Olfactory Performance in Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera). Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14051000. [PMID: 37239360 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in the nerve regulation of honey bees (Apis mellifera). This study aims to investigate the differences in expression of miRNAs in a honey bee's brain for olfactory learning tasks and to explore their potential role in a honey bee's olfactory learning and memory. In this study, 12 day old honey bees with strong and weak olfactory performances were utilized to investigate the influence of miRNAs on olfactory learning behavior. The honey bee brains were dissected, and a small RNA-seq technique was used for high-throughput sequencing. The data analysis of the miRNA sequences revealed that 14 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) between the two groups, strong (S) and weak (W), for olfactory performance in honey bees were identified, which included seven up-regulated and seven down-regulated. The qPCR verification results of the 14 miRNAs showed that four miRNAs (miR-184-3p, miR-276-3p, miR-87-3p, and miR-124-3p) were significantly associated with olfactory learning and memory. The target genes of these DEmiRNAs were subjected to the GO database annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. The functional annotation and pathway analysis showed that the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, oxidative phosphorylation, biosynthesis of amino acids, pentose phosphate pathway, carbon metabolism, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis may be a great important pathway related to olfactory learning and memory in honey bees. Our findings together further explained the relationship between olfactory performance and the brain function of honey bees at the molecular level and provides a basis for further study on miRNAs related to olfactory learning and memory in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingnan Huang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Tianbao Wang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yuanmei Qiu
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Aqai Kalan Hassanyar
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zhaonan Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Laboratory of Evolution and Diversity Biology, UMR5174, University Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, CNRS, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Qiaoling Sun
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiaomin Ni
- Faculty of Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kejun Yu
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yongkang Guo
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Changsheng Yang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yang Lü
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Mudanjiang Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mudanjiang 157041, China
| | - Hongyi Nie
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yan Lin
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zhiguo Li
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Songkun Su
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Academy of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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Schiöth HB, Donzelli L, Arvidsson N, Williams MJ, Moulin TC. Evidence for Prepulse Inhibition of Visually Evoked Motor Response in Drosophila melanogaster. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040635. [PMID: 37106835 PMCID: PMC10135638 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a widely investigated behavior to study the mechanisms of disorders such as anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar mania. PPI has been observed across various vertebrate and invertebrate species; however, it has not yet been reported in adult Drosophila melanogaster. In this study, we describe the first detection of PPI of visually evoked locomotor arousal in flies. To validate our findings, we demonstrate that PPI in Drosophila can be partially reverted by the N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801, known for inducing sensorimotor gating deficits in rodent models. Additionally, we show that the visually evoked response can be inhibited by multiple stimuli presentation, which can also be affected by MK-801. Given the versatility of Drosophila as a model organism for genetic screening and analysis, our results suggest that high-throughput behavioral screenings of adult flies can become a valuable tool for investigating the mechanisms behind PPI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Laura Donzelli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nicklas Arvidsson
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Michael J Williams
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thiago C Moulin
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
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11
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NMDA Receptor and Its Emerging Role in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032540. [PMID: 36768862 PMCID: PMC9917092 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamate is a key player in excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is a glutamate-gated ion channel which presents several unique features and is involved in various physiological and pathological neuronal processes. Thanks to great efforts in neuroscience, its structure and the molecular mechanisms controlling its localization and functional regulation in neuronal cells are well known. The signaling mediated by NMDAR in neurons is very complex as it depends on its localization, composition, Ca2+ influx, and ion flow-independent conformational changes. Moreover, NMDA receptors are highly diffusive in the plasma membrane of neurons, where they form heterocomplexes with other membrane receptors and scaffold proteins which determine the receptor function and activation of downstream signaling. Interestingly, a recent paper demonstrates that NMDAR signaling is involved in epithelial cell competition, an evolutionary conserved cell fitness process influencing cancer initiation and progress. The idea that NMDAR signaling is limited to CNS has been challenged in the past two decades. A large body of evidence suggests that NMDAR is expressed in cancer cells outside the CNS and can respond to the autocrine/paracrine release of glutamate. In this review, we survey research on NMDAR signaling and regulation in neurons that can help illuminate its role in tumor biology. Finally, we will discuss existing data on the role of the glutamine/glutamate metabolism, the anticancer action of NMDAR antagonists in experimental models, NMDAR synaptic signaling in tumors, and clinical evidence in human cancer.
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Moulin TC, Stojanovic T, Rajesh RP, Pareek T, Donzelli L, Williams MJ, Schiöth HB. Effects of Transient Administration of the NMDA Receptor Antagonist MK-801 in Drosophila melanogaster Activity, Sleep, and Negative Geotaxis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11010192. [PMID: 36672700 PMCID: PMC9855773 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
MK-801, also called dizocilpine, is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist widely used in animal research to model schizophrenia-like phenotypes. Although its effects in rodents are well characterised, little is known about the outcomes of this drug in other organisms. In this study, we characterise the effects of MK-801 on the locomotion, sleep, and negative geotaxis of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We observed that acute (24 h) and chronic (7 days) administration of MK-801 enhanced negative geotaxis activity in the forced climbing assay for all tested concentrations (0.15 mM, 0.3 mM, and 0.6 mM). Moreover, acute administration, but not chronic, increased the flies' locomotion in a dose-dependent matter. Finally, average sleep duration was not affected by any concentration or administration protocol. Our results indicate that acute MK-801 could be used to model hyperactivity phenotypes in Drosophila melanogaster. Overall, this study provides further evidence that the NMDA receptor system is functionally conserved in flies, suggesting the usefulness of this model to investigate several phenotypes as a complement and replacement of the rodent models within drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago C. Moulin
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
- Correspondence:
| | - Tijana Stojanovic
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rasika P. Rajesh
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tirusha Pareek
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Laura Donzelli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Michael J. Williams
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helgi B. Schiöth
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
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13
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Nevoa JC, Latorre-Estivalis JM, Pais FSM, Marliére NP, Fernandes GDR, Lorenzo MG, Guarneri AA. Global characterization of gene expression in the brain of starved immature Rhodnius prolixus. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282490. [PMID: 36867641 PMCID: PMC9983911 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rhodnius prolixus is a vector of Chagas disease and has become a model organism to study physiology, behavior, and pathogen interaction. The publication of its genome allowed initiating a process of comparative characterization of the gene expression profiles of diverse organs exposed to varying conditions. Brain processes control the expression of behavior and, as such, mediate immediate adjustment to a changing environment, allowing organisms to maximize their chances to survive and reproduce. The expression of fundamental behavioral processes like feeding requires fine control in triatomines because they obtain their blood meals from potential predators. Therefore, the characterization of gene expression profiles of key components modulating behavior in brain processes, like those of neuropeptide precursors and their receptors, seems fundamental. Here we study global gene expression profiles in the brain of starved R. prolixus fifth instar nymphs by means of RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). RESULTS The expression of neuromodulatory genes such as those of precursors of neuropeptides, neurohormones, and their receptors; as well as the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and processing of neuropeptides and biogenic amines were fully characterized. Other important gene targets such as neurotransmitter receptors, nuclear receptors, clock genes, sensory receptors, and takeouts genes were identified and their gene expression analyzed. CONCLUSION We propose that the set of neuromodulatory-related genes highly expressed in the brain of starved R. prolixus nymphs deserves functional characterization to allow the subsequent development of tools targeting them for bug control. As the brain is a complex structure that presents functionally specialized areas, future studies should focus on characterizing gene expression profiles in target areas, e.g. mushroom bodies, to complement our current knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Coraiola Nevoa
- Vector Behaviour and Pathogen Interaction Group, Instituto René Rachou – FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Jose Manuel Latorre-Estivalis
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Newmar Pinto Marliére
- Vector Behaviour and Pathogen Interaction Group, Instituto René Rachou – FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Gustavo Lorenzo
- Vector Behaviour and Pathogen Interaction Group, Instituto René Rachou – FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Aparecida Guarneri
- Vector Behaviour and Pathogen Interaction Group, Instituto René Rachou – FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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14
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Clock gene-dependent glutamate dynamics in the bean bug brain regulate photoperiodic reproduction. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001734. [PMID: 36067166 PMCID: PMC9447885 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals adequately modulate their physiological status and behavior according to the season. Many animals sense photoperiod for seasonal adaptation, and the circadian clock is suggested to play an essential role in photoperiodic time measurement. However, circadian clock-driven neural signals in the brain that convey photoperiodic information remain unclear. Here, we focused on brain extracellular dynamics of a classical neurotransmitter glutamate, which is widely used for brain neurotransmission, and analyzed its involvement in photoperiodic responses using the bean bug Riptortus pedestris that shows clear photoperiodism in reproduction. Extracellular glutamate levels in the whole brain were significantly higher under short-day conditions, which cause a reproductive diapause, than those under long-day conditions. The photoperiodic change in glutamate levels was clearly abolished by knockdown of the clock gene period. We also demonstrated that genetic modulation of glutamate dynamics by knockdown of glutamate-metabolizing enzyme genes, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (got) and glutamine synthetase (gs), attenuated photoperiodic responses in reproduction. Further, we investigated glutamate-mediated photoperiodic modulations at a cellular level, focusing on the pars intercerebralis (PI) neurons that photoperiodically change their neural activity and promote oviposition. Electrophysiological analyses showed that L-Glutamate acts as an inhibitory signal to PI neurons via glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl). Additionally, combination of electrophysiology and genetics revealed that knockdown of got, gs, and glucl disrupted cellular photoperiodic responses of the PI neurons, in addition to reproductive phenotypes. Our results reveal that the extracellular glutamate dynamics are photoperiodically regulated depending on the clock gene and play an essential role in the photoperiodic control of reproduction via inhibitory pathways.
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15
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Dlg Is Required for Short-Term Memory and Interacts with NMDAR in the Drosophila Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169187. [PMID: 36012453 PMCID: PMC9409279 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrates’ scaffold proteins of the Dlg-MAGUK family are involved in the recruitment, clustering, and anchoring of glutamate receptors to the postsynaptic density, particularly the NMDA subtype glutamate-receptors (NRs), necessary for long-term memory and LTP. In Drosophila, the only gene of the subfamily generates two main products, dlgA, broadly expressed, and dlgS97, restricted to the nervous system. In the Drosophila brain, NRs are expressed in the adult brain and are involved in memory, however, the role of Dlg in these processes and its relationship with NRs has been scarcely explored. Here, we show that the dlg mutants display defects in short-term memory in the olfactory associative-learning paradigm. These defects are dependent on the presence of DlgS97 in the Mushroom Body (MB) synapses. Moreover, Dlg is immunoprecipitated with NRs in the adult brain. Dlg is also expressed in the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) pre and post-synaptically and is important for development and synaptic function, however, NR is absent in this synapse. Despite that, we found changes in the short-term plasticity paradigms in dlg mutant larval NMJ. Together our results show that larval NMJ and the adult brain relies on Dlg for short-term memory/plasticity, but the mechanisms differ in the two types of synapses.
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16
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Gao YQ, Chen ZZ, Liu MY, Song CY, Jia ZF, Liu FH, Qu C, Dewer Y, Zhao HP, Xu YY, Kang ZW. Characterization of Antennal Chemosensilla and Associated Chemosensory Genes in the Orange Spiny Whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintanca). Front Physiol 2022; 13:847895. [PMID: 35295577 PMCID: PMC8920487 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.847895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The insect chemosensory system plays an important role in many aspects of insects' behaviors necessary for their survival. Despite the complexity of this system, an increasing number of studies have begun to understand its structure and function in different insect species. Nonetheless, the chemosensory system in the orange spiny whitefly Aleurocanthus spiniferus, as one of the most destructive insect pests of citrus in tropical Asia, has not been investigated yet. In this study, the sensillum types, morphologies and distributions of the male and female antennae of A. spiniferus were characterized using scanning electron microscopy. In both sexes, six different sensilla types were observed: trichodea sensilla, chaetica sensilla, microtrichia sensilla, coeloconic sensilla, basiconic sensilla, and finger-like sensilla. Moreover, we identified a total of 48 chemosensory genes, including 5 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), 12 chemosensory proteins (CSPs), 3 sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), 6 odorant receptors (ORs), 8 gustatory receptors (GRs), and 14 ionotropic receptors (IRs) using transcriptome data analysis. Tissue-specific transcriptome analysis of these genes showed predominantly expression in the head (including antennae), whereas CSPs were broadly expressed in both head (including the antennae) and body tissue of adult A. spiniferus. In addition, the expression profiling of selected chemosensory genes at different developmental stages was examined by quantitative real time-PCR which was mapped to the transcriptome. We found that the majority of these genes were highly expressed in adults, while AspiORco, AspiGR1, AspiGR2, and AspiIR4 genes were only detected in the pupal stage. Together, this study provides a basis for future chemosensory and genomic studies in A. spiniferus and closely related species. Furthermore, this study not only provides insights for further research on the molecular mechanisms of A. spiniferus-plant interactions but also provides extensive potential targets for pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Qing Gao
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
| | - Meng-Yuan Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
| | - Chang-Yuan Song
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
| | - Zhi-Fei Jia
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
| | - Fang-Hua Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
| | - Cheng Qu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Youssef Dewer
- Phytotoxicity Research Department, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Hai-Peng Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
| | - Yong-Yu Xu
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
| | - Zhi-Wei Kang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
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17
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Rahmani A, Chew YL. Investigating the molecular mechanisms of learning and memory using Caenorhabditis elegans. J Neurochem 2021; 159:417-451. [PMID: 34528252 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Learning is an essential biological process for survival since it facilitates behavioural plasticity in response to environmental changes. This process is mediated by a wide variety of genes, mostly expressed in the nervous system. Many studies have extensively explored the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. This review will focus on the advances gained through the study of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans provides an excellent system to study learning because of its genetic tractability, in addition to its invariant, compact nervous system (~300 neurons) that is well-characterised at the structural level. Importantly, despite its compact nature, the nematode nervous system possesses a high level of conservation with mammalian systems. These features allow the study of genes within specific sensory-, inter- and motor neurons, facilitating the interrogation of signalling pathways that mediate learning via defined neural circuits. This review will detail how learning and memory can be studied in C. elegans through behavioural paradigms that target distinct sensory modalities. We will also summarise recent studies describing mechanisms through which key molecular and cellular pathways are proposed to affect associative and non-associative forms of learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aelon Rahmani
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Yee Lian Chew
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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18
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Bekkouche BMB, Shoemaker PA, Fabian JM, Rigosi E, Wiederman SD, O'Carroll DC. Modeling Nonlinear Dendritic Processing of Facilitation in a Dragonfly Target-Tracking Neuron. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:684872. [PMID: 34483847 PMCID: PMC8415787 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.684872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dragonflies are highly skilled and successful aerial predators that are even capable of selectively attending to one target within a swarm. Detection and tracking of prey is likely to be driven by small target motion detector (STMD) neurons identified from several insect groups. Prior work has shown that dragonfly STMD responses are facilitated by targets moving on a continuous path, enhancing the response gain at the present and predicted future location of targets. In this study, we combined detailed morphological data with computational modeling to test whether a combination of dendritic morphology and nonlinear properties of NMDA receptors could explain these observations. We developed a hybrid computational model of neurons within the dragonfly optic lobe, which integrates numerical and morphological components. The model was able to generate potent facilitation for targets moving on continuous trajectories, including a localized spotlight of maximal sensitivity close to the last seen target location, as also measured during in vivo recordings. The model did not, however, include a mechanism capable of producing a traveling or spreading wave of facilitation. Our data support a strong role for the high dendritic density seen in the dragonfly neuron in enhancing non-linear facilitation. An alternative model based on the morphology of an unrelated type of motion processing neuron from a dipteran fly required more than three times higher synaptic gain in order to elicit similar levels of facilitation, despite having only 20% fewer synapses. Our data support a potential role for NMDA receptors in target tracking and also demonstrate the feasibility of combining biologically plausible dendritic computations with more abstract computational models for basic processing as used in earlier studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrick A Shoemaker
- Computational Science Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Joseph M Fabian
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Elisa Rigosi
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Steven D Wiederman
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Chatterjee A, Bais D, Brockmann A, Ramesh D. Search Behavior of Individual Foragers Involves Neurotransmitter Systems Characteristic for Social Scouting. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 1:664978. [PMID: 38468879 PMCID: PMC10926421 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2021.664978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
In honey bees search behavior occurs as social and solitary behavior. In the context of foraging, searching for food sources is performed by behavioral specialized foragers, the scouts. When the scouts have found a new food source, they recruit other foragers (recruits). These recruits never search for a new food source on their own. However, when the food source is experimentally removed, they start searching for that food source. Our study provides a detailed description of this solitary search behavior and the variation of this behavior among individual foragers. Furthermore, mass spectrometric measurement showed that the initiation and performance of this solitary search behavior is associated with changes in glutamate, GABA, histamine, aspartate, and the catecholaminergic system in the optic lobes and central brain area. These findings strikingly correspond with the results of an earlier study that showed that scouts and recruits differ in the expression of glutamate and GABA receptors. Together, the results of both studies provide first clear support for the hypothesis that behavioral specialization in honey bees is based on adjusting modulatory systems involved in solitary behavior to increase the probability or frequency of that behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arumoy Chatterjee
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
- School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Deepika Bais
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Axel Brockmann
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Divya Ramesh
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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20
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Neuron-Specific FMRP Roles in Experience-Dependent Remodeling of Olfactory Brain Innervation during an Early-Life Critical Period. J Neurosci 2021; 41:1218-1241. [PMID: 33402421 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2167-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Critical periods are developmental windows during which neural circuits effectively adapt to the new sensory environment. Animal models of fragile X syndrome (FXS), a common monogenic autism spectrum disorder (ASD), exhibit profound impairments of sensory experience-driven critical periods. However, it is not known whether the causative fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) acts uniformly across neurons, or instead manifests neuron-specific functions. Here, we use the genetically-tractable Drosophila brain antennal lobe (AL) olfactory circuit of both sexes to investigate neuron-specific FMRP roles in the odorant experience-dependent remodeling of the olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) innervation during an early-life critical period. We find targeted OSN class-specific FMRP RNAi impairs innervation remodeling within AL synaptic glomeruli, whereas global dfmr1 null mutants display relatively normal odorant-driven refinement. We find both OSN cell autonomous and cell non-autonomous FMRP functions mediate odorant experience-dependent remodeling, with AL circuit FMRP imbalance causing defects in overall glomerulus innervation refinement. We find OSN class-specific FMRP levels bidirectionally regulate critical period remodeling, with odorant experience selectively controlling OSN synaptic terminals in AL glomeruli. We find OSN class-specific FMRP loss impairs critical period remodeling by disrupting responses to lateral modulation from other odorant-responsive OSNs mediating overall AL gain control. We find that silencing glutamatergic AL interneurons reduces OSN remodeling, while conversely, interfering with the OSN class-specific GABAA signaling enhances remodeling. These findings reveal control of OSN synaptic remodeling by FMRP with neuron-specific circuit functions, and indicate how neural circuitry can compensate for global FMRP loss to reinstate normal critical period brain circuit remodeling.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the leading monogenic cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), manifests severe neurodevelopmental delays. Likewise, FXS disease models display disrupted neurodevelopmental critical periods. In the well-mapped Drosophila olfactory circuit model, perturbing the causative fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) within a single olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) class impairs odorant-dependent remodeling during an early-life critical period. Importantly, this impairment requires activation of other OSNs, and the olfactory circuit can compensate when FMRP is removed from all OSNs. Understanding the neuron-specific FMRP requirements within a developing neural circuit, as well as the FMRP loss compensation mechanisms, should help us engineer FXS treatments. This work suggests FXS treatments could use homeostatic mechanisms to alleviate circuit-level deficits.
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21
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Kalsi M, Walter A, Lee B, DeLaat A, Trigueros RR, Happel K, Sepesy R, Nguyen B, Manwill PK, Rakotondraibe LH, Piermarini PM. Stop the crop: Insights into the insecticidal mode of action of cinnamodial against mosquitoes. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 171:104743. [PMID: 33357565 PMCID: PMC7770332 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2020.104743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cinnamodial (CDIAL) is a drimane sesquiterpene dialdehyde found in the bark of Malagasy medicinal plants (Cinnamosma species; family Canellaceae). We previously demonstrated that CDIAL was insecticidal, antifeedant, and repellent against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The goal of the present study was to generate insights into the insecticidal mode of action for CDIAL, which is presently unknown. We evaluated the effects of CDIAL on the contractility of the ventral diverticulum (crop) isolated from adult female Ae. aegypti. The crop is a food storage organ surrounded by visceral muscle that spontaneously contracts in vitro. We found that CDIAL completely inhibited spontaneous contractions of the crop as well as those stimulated by the agonist 5-hydroxytryptamine. Several derivatives of CDIAL with known insecticidal activity also inhibited crop contractions. Morphometric analyses of crops suggested that CDIAL induced a tetanic paralysis that was dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and inhibited by Gd3+, a non-specific blocker of plasma membrane Ca2+ channels. Screening of numerous pharmacological agents revealed that a Ca2+ ionophore (A23187) was the only compound other than CDIAL to completely inhibit crop contractions via a tetanic paralysis. Taken together, our results suggest that CDIAL induces a tetanic paralysis of the crop by elevating intracellular Ca2+ through the activation of plasma membrane Ca2+ channels, which may explain the insecticidal effects of CDIAL against mosquitoes. Our pharmacological screening experiments also revealed the presence of two regulatory pathways in mosquito crop contractility not previously described: an inhibitory glutamatergic pathway and a stimulatory octopaminergic pathway. The latter pathway was also completely inhibited by CDIAL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha Kalsi
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Anton Walter
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Beenhwa Lee
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Andrew DeLaat
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Renata Rusconi Trigueros
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Katharina Happel
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Rose Sepesy
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Bao Nguyen
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Preston K Manwill
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for Applied Plant Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Liva Harinantenaina Rakotondraibe
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for Applied Plant Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Peter M Piermarini
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691, USA; Center for Applied Plant Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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22
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Chvilicek MM, Titos I, Rothenfluh A. The Neurotransmitters Involved in Drosophila Alcohol-Induced Behaviors. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:607700. [PMID: 33384590 PMCID: PMC7770116 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.607700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol is a widely used and abused substance with numerous negative consequences for human health and safety. Historically, alcohol's widespread, non-specific neurobiological effects have made it a challenge to study in humans. Therefore, model organisms are a critical tool for unraveling the mechanisms of alcohol action and subsequent effects on behavior. Drosophila melanogaster is genetically tractable and displays a vast behavioral repertoire, making it a particularly good candidate for examining the neurobiology of alcohol responses. In addition to being experimentally amenable, Drosophila have high face and mechanistic validity: their alcohol-related behaviors are remarkably consistent with humans and other mammalian species, and they share numerous conserved neurotransmitters and signaling pathways. Flies have a long history in alcohol research, which has been enhanced in recent years by the development of tools that allow for manipulating individual Drosophila neurotransmitters. Through advancements such as the GAL4/UAS system and CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis, investigation of specific neurotransmitters in small subsets of neurons has become ever more achievable. In this review, we describe recent progress in understanding the contribution of seven neurotransmitters to fly behavior, focusing on their roles in alcohol response: dopamine, octopamine, tyramine, serotonin, glutamate, GABA, and acetylcholine. We chose these small-molecule neurotransmitters due to their conservation in mammals and their importance for behavior. While neurotransmitters like dopamine and octopamine have received significant research emphasis regarding their contributions to behavior, others, like glutamate, GABA, and acetylcholine, remain relatively unexplored. Here, we summarize recent genetic and behavioral findings concerning these seven neurotransmitters and their roles in the behavioral response to alcohol, highlighting the fitness of the fly as a model for human alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie M. Chvilicek
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Iris Titos
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Adrian Rothenfluh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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23
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Wu Y, Funato Y, Meschi E, Jovanoski KD, Miki H, Waddell S. Magnesium efflux from Drosophila Kenyon cells is critical for normal and diet-enhanced long-term memory. eLife 2020; 9:61339. [PMID: 33242000 PMCID: PMC7843133 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary magnesium (Mg2+) supplementation can enhance memory in young and aged rats. Memory-enhancing capacity was largely ascribed to increases in hippocampal synaptic density and elevated expression of the NR2B subunit of the NMDA-type glutamate receptor. Here we show that Mg2+ feeding also enhances long-term memory in Drosophila. Normal and Mg2+-enhanced fly memory appears independent of NMDA receptors in the mushroom body and instead requires expression of a conserved CNNM-type Mg2+-efflux transporter encoded by the unextended (uex) gene. UEX contains a putative cyclic nucleotide-binding homology domain and its mutation separates a vital role for uex from a function in memory. Moreover, UEX localization in mushroom body Kenyon cells (KCs) is altered in memory-defective flies harboring mutations in cAMP-related genes. Functional imaging suggests that UEX-dependent efflux is required for slow rhythmic maintenance of KC Mg2+. We propose that regulated neuronal Mg2+ efflux is critical for normal and Mg2+-enhanced memory. The proverbial saying ‘you are what you eat’ perfectly summarizes the concept that our diet can influence both our mental and physical health. We know that foods that are good for the heart, such as nuts, oily fish and berries, are also good for the brain. We know too that vitamins and minerals are essential for overall good health. But is there any evidence that increasing your intake of specific vitamins or minerals could help boost your brain power? While it might sound almost too good to be true, there is some evidence that this is the case for at least one mineral, magnesium. Studies in rodents have shown that adding magnesium supplements to food improves how well the animals perform on memory tasks. Both young and old animals benefit from additional magnesium. Even elderly rodents with a condition similar to Alzheimer’s disease show less memory loss when given magnesium supplements. But what about other species? Wu et al. now show that magnesium supplements also boost memory performance in fruit flies. One group of flies was fed with standard cornmeal for several days, while the other group received cornmeal supplemented with magnesium. Both groups were then trained to associate an odor with a food reward. Flies that had received the extra magnesium showed better memory for the odor when tested 24 hours after training. Wu et al. show that magnesium improves memory in the flies via a different mechanism to that reported previously for rodents. In rodents, magnesium increased levels of a receptor protein for a brain chemical called glutamate. In fruit flies, by contrast, the memory boost depended on a protein that transports magnesium out of neurons. Mutant flies that lacked this transporter showed memory impairments. Unlike normal flies, those without the transporter showed no memory improvement after eating magnesium-enriched food. The results suggest that the transporter may help adjust magnesium levels inside brain cells in response to neural activity. Humans produce four variants of this magnesium transporter, each encoded by a different gene. One of these transporters has already been implicated in brain development. The findings of Wu et al. suggest that the transporters may also act in the adult brain to influence cognition. Further studies are needed to test whether targeting the magnesium transporter could ultimately hold promise for treating memory impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanying Wu
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, The University of Oxford, Tinsley Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yosuke Funato
- Department of Cellular Regulation, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Eleonora Meschi
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, The University of Oxford, Tinsley Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kristijan D Jovanoski
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, The University of Oxford, Tinsley Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Hiroaki Miki
- Department of Cellular Regulation, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Scott Waddell
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, The University of Oxford, Tinsley Building, Oxford, United Kingdom
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24
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Cloning and characterisation of NMDA receptors in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793) in relation to metamorphosis and catecholamine synthesis. Dev Biol 2020; 469:144-159. [PMID: 33131707 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Bivalve metamorphosis is a developmental transition from a free-living larva to a benthic juvenile (spat), regulated by a complex interaction of neurotransmitters and neurohormones such as L-DOPA and epinephrine (catecholamine). We recently suggested an N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor pathway as an additional and previously unknown regulator of bivalve metamorphosis. To explore this theory further, we successfully induced metamorphosis in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, by exposing competent larvae to L-DOPA, epinephrine, MK-801 and ifenprodil. Subsequently, we cloned three NMDA receptor subunits CgNR1, CgNR2A and CgNR2B, with sequence analysis suggesting successful assembly of functional NMDA receptor complexes and binding to natural occurring agonists and the channel blocker MK-801. NMDA receptor subunits are expressed in competent larvae, during metamorphosis and in spat, but this expression is neither self-regulated nor regulated by catecholamines. In-situ hybridisation of CgNR1 in competent larvae identified NMDA receptor presence in the apical organ/cerebral ganglia area with a potential sensory function, and in the nervous network of the foot indicating an additional putative muscle regulatory function. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses identified molluscan-specific gene expansions of key enzymes involved in catecholamine biosynthesis. However, exposure to MK-801 did not alter the expression of selected key enzymes, suggesting that NMDA receptors do not regulate the biosynthesis of catecholamines via gene expression.
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25
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Turner-Evans DB, Jensen KT, Ali S, Paterson T, Sheridan A, Ray RP, Wolff T, Lauritzen JS, Rubin GM, Bock DD, Jayaraman V. The Neuroanatomical Ultrastructure and Function of a Biological Ring Attractor. Neuron 2020; 108:145-163.e10. [PMID: 32916090 PMCID: PMC8356802 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Neural representations of head direction (HD) have been discovered in many species. Theoretical work has proposed that the dynamics associated with these representations are generated, maintained, and updated by recurrent network structures called ring attractors. We evaluated this theorized structure-function relationship by performing electron-microscopy-based circuit reconstruction and RNA profiling of identified cell types in the HD system of Drosophila melanogaster. We identified motifs that have been hypothesized to maintain the HD representation in darkness, update it when the animal turns, and tether it to visual cues. Functional studies provided support for the proposed roles of individual excitatory or inhibitory circuit elements in shaping activity. We also discovered recurrent connections between neuronal arbors with mixed pre- and postsynaptic specializations. Our results confirm that the Drosophila HD network contains the core components of a ring attractor while also revealing unpredicted structural features that might enhance the network's computational power.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristopher T Jensen
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Computational and Biological Learning Lab, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Saba Ali
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Tyler Paterson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Arlo Sheridan
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Robert P Ray
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Tanya Wolff
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - J Scott Lauritzen
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Gerald M Rubin
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Davi D Bock
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Vivek Jayaraman
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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26
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Takai A, Yamaguchi M, Yoshida H, Chiyonobu T. Investigating Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy Using Drosophila melanogaster. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176442. [PMID: 32899411 PMCID: PMC7503973 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are the spectrum of severe epilepsies characterized by early-onset, refractory seizures occurring in the context of developmental regression or plateauing. Early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE) is one of the earliest forms of DEE, manifesting as frequent epileptic spasms and characteristic electroencephalogram findings in early infancy. In recent years, next-generation sequencing approaches have identified a number of monogenic determinants underlying DEE. In the case of EIEE, 85 genes have been registered in Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man as causative genes. Model organisms are indispensable tools for understanding the in vivo roles of the newly identified causative genes. In this review, we first present an overview of epilepsy and its genetic etiology, especially focusing on EIEE and then briefly summarize epilepsy research using animal and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models. The Drosophila model, which is characterized by easy gene manipulation, a short generation time, low cost and fewer ethical restrictions when designing experiments, is optimal for understanding the genetics of DEE. We therefore highlight studies with Drosophila models for EIEE and discuss the future development of their practical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akari Takai
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan;
| | - Masamitsu Yamaguchi
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 603-8585, Japan; (M.Y.); (H.Y.)
- Kansai Gakken Laboratory, Kankyo Eisei Yakuhin Co. Ltd., Kyoto 619-0237, Japan
| | - Hideki Yoshida
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 603-8585, Japan; (M.Y.); (H.Y.)
| | - Tomohiro Chiyonobu
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan;
- Correspondence:
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27
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Stroebel D, Paoletti P. Architecture and function of NMDA receptors: an evolutionary perspective. J Physiol 2020; 599:2615-2638. [PMID: 32786006 DOI: 10.1113/jp279028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) are a major class of ligand-gated ion channels that are widespread in the living kingdom. Their critical role in excitatory neurotransmission and brain function of arthropods and vertebrates has made them a compelling subject of interest for neurophysiologists and pharmacologists. This is particularly true for NMDA receptor (NMDARs), a subclass of iGluRs that act as central drivers of synaptic plasticity in the CNS. How and when the unique properties of NMDARs arose during evolution, and how they relate to the evolution of the nervous system, remain open questions. Recent years have witnessed a boom in both genomic and structural data, such that it is now possible to analyse the evolution of iGluR genes on an unprecedented scale and within a solid molecular framework. In this review, combining insights from phylogeny, atomic structure and physiological and mechanistic data, we discuss how evolution of NMDAR motifs and sequences shaped their architecture and functionalities. We trace differences and commonalities between NMDARs and other iGluRs, emphasizing a few distinctive properties of the former regarding ligand binding and gating, permeation, allosteric modulation and intracellular signalling. Finally, we speculate on how specific molecular properties of iGuRs arose to supply new functions to the evolving structure of the nervous system, from early metazoan to present mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Stroebel
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Institute de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Paoletti
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Institute de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Université PSL, Paris, France
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28
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The NMDA receptor regulates competition of epithelial cells in the Drosophila wing. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2228. [PMID: 32376880 PMCID: PMC7203100 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16070-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell competition is an emerging principle that eliminates suboptimal or potentially dangerous cells. For ‘unfit’ cells to be detected, their competitive status needs to be compared to the collective fitness of cells within a tissue. Here we report that the NMDA receptor controls cell competition of epithelial cells and Myc supercompetitors in the Drosophila wing disc. While clonal depletion of the NMDA receptor subunit NR2 results in their rapid elimination via the TNF/Eiger>JNK signalling pathway, local over-expression of NR2 causes NR2 cells to acquire supercompetitor-like behaviour that enables them to overtake the tissue through clonal expansion that causes, but also relies on, the killing of surrounding cells. Consistently, NR2 is utilised by Myc clones to provide them with supercompetitor status. Mechanistically, we find that the JNK>PDK signalling axis in ‘loser’ cells reprograms their metabolism, driving them to produce and transfer lactate to winners. Preventing lactate transfer from losers to winners abrogates NMDAR-mediated cell competition. Our findings demonstrate a functional repurposing of NMDAR in the surveillance of tissue fitness. Cell competition among epithelial cells allows removal of unfit or dangerous cells. Here, the authors show that the NMDA receptor is an important determinant of cell fitness in the Drosophila wing, also in the context of Myc super-competitor cells, with “loser” cells contributing metabolitic fuel to “winner” cells.
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29
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Robertson RM, Dawson-Scully KD, Andrew RD. Neural shutdown under stress: an evolutionary perspective on spreading depolarization. J Neurophysiol 2020; 123:885-895. [PMID: 32023142 PMCID: PMC7099469 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00724.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural function depends on maintaining cellular membrane potentials as the basis for electrical signaling. Yet, in mammals and insects, neuronal and glial membrane potentials can reversibly depolarize to zero, shutting down neural function by the process of spreading depolarization (SD) that collapses the ion gradients across membranes. SD is not evident in all metazoan taxa with centralized nervous systems. We consider the occurrence and similarities of SD in different animals and suggest that it is an emergent property of nervous systems that have evolved to control complex behaviors requiring energetically expensive, rapid information processing in a tightly regulated extracellular environment. Whether SD is beneficial or not in mammals remains an open question. However, in insects, it is associated with the response to harsh environments and may provide an energetic advantage that improves the chances of survival. The remarkable similarity of SD in diverse taxa supports a model systems approach to understanding the mechanistic underpinning of human neuropathology associated with migraine, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Meldrum Robertson
- Department of Biology and Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ken D Dawson-Scully
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - R David Andrew
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences and Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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30
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Chen C, Wang H, Liu Z, Chen X, Tang J, Meng F, Shi W. Population Genomics Provide Insights into the Evolution and Adaptation of the Eastern Honey Bee (Apis cerana). Mol Biol Evol 2020; 35:2260-2271. [PMID: 29931308 PMCID: PMC6107058 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msy130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms by which organisms adapt to variable environments are a fundamental question in evolutionary biology and are important to protect important species in response to a changing climate. An interesting candidate to study this question is the honey bee Apis cerana, a keystone pollinator with a wide distribution throughout a large variety of climates, that exhibits rapid dispersal. Here, we resequenced the genome of 180 A. cerana individuals from 18 populations throughout China. Using a population genomics approach, we observed considerable genetic variation in A. cerana. Patterns of genetic differentiation indicate high divergence at the subspecies level, and physical barriers rather than distance are the driving force for population divergence. Estimations of divergence time suggested that the main branches diverged between 300 and 500 Ka. Analyses of the population history revealed a substantial influence of the Earth's climate on the effective population size of A. cerana, as increased population sizes were observed during warmer periods. Further analyses identified candidate genes under natural selection that are potentially related to honey bee cognition, temperature adaptation, and olfactory. Based on our results, A. cerana may have great potential in response to climate change. Our study provides fundamental knowledge of the evolution and adaptation of A. cerana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Chen
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Huihua Wang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiguang Liu
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiao Tang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fanming Meng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Shi
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
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31
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Camp AA, Yun J, Chambers SA, Haeba MH, LeBlanc GA. Involvement of glutamate and serotonin transmitter systems in male sex determination in Daphnia pulex. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 121:104015. [PMID: 31930975 PMCID: PMC7098118 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2020.104015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Environmental sex determination occurs in many organisms, however the means by which environmental stimuli are translated into endocrine messages remains poorly understood. The N-methyl-ᴅ-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) was evaluated as a candidate neural sensor of environmental signals linking environmental cues to endocrine responses using the crustacean Daphnia pulex. NMDAR agonists, modulators, and antagonists were evaluated for their ability to impact D. pulex male sex determination during early stages of reproductive maturity under conditions that simulated seasonal change. The antagonists MK-801 and desipramine significantly increased male sex determination. Both chemicals are also modulators of serotonergic and noradrenergic systems, thus, we evaluated several modulators of monoamine neurotransmission in an effort to discern which signaling pathways might contribute to male sex determination. Compounds that altered serotonergic signaling also stimulated male sex determination. The involvement of the glutamate and monoamine signaling in male sex determination was supported by the increase in mRNA levels of related receptors and transporters under conditions that stimulate male sex determination. Further, mRNA levels of components of the terminal endocrine pathway responsible for male sex determination were also elevated under stimulatory conditions. Overall, we provide evidence that glutamatergic and serotonergic systems function upstream of the endocrine regulation of male sex determination in early life stage daphnids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison A Camp
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Jeonga Yun
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Samantha A Chambers
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Maher H Haeba
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Gerald A LeBlanc
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
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32
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Poon CH, Chan YS, Fung ML, Lim LW. Memory and neuromodulation: A perspective of DNA methylation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 111:57-68. [PMID: 31846654 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neuromodulation techniques have shown promising efficacy on memory function and understanding the epigenetic mechanisms contributing to these processes would shed light on the molecular outcomes essential for cognition. In this review, we highlight some epigenetic mechanisms underlying neuromodulation and regulatory effects of neuronal activity-induced DNA methylation on genes that are highly involved in memory formation. Next, we examine the evidence to support DNA methyltransferase 3a, methyl-CpG binding protein 2, and DNA demethylase as possible memory modulation targets. Finally, we report the recent developments in the field of neuromodulation and explore the potential of these techniques for future neuroepigenetic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Him Poon
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying-Shing Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Man Lung Fung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lee Wei Lim
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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33
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Rivi V, Benatti C, Colliva C, Radighieri G, Brunello N, Tascedda F, Blom JMC. Lymnaea stagnalis as model for translational neuroscience research: From pond to bench. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 108:602-616. [PMID: 31786320 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to illustrate how a reductionistic, but sophisticated, approach based on the use of a simple model system such as the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis (L. stagnalis), might be useful to address fundamental questions in learning and memory. L. stagnalis, as a model, provides an interesting platform to investigate the dialog between the synapse and the nucleus and vice versa during memory and learning. More importantly, the "molecular actors" of the memory dialogue are well-conserved both across phylogenetic groups and learning paradigms, involving single- or multi-trials, aversion or reward, operant or classical conditioning. At the same time, this model could help to study how, where and when the memory dialog is impaired in stressful conditions and during aging and neurodegeneration in humans and thus offers new insights and targets in order to develop innovative therapies and technology for the treatment of a range of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Rivi
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - C Benatti
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - C Colliva
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - G Radighieri
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - N Brunello
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - F Tascedda
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - J M C Blom
- Dept. of Education and Human Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
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Troutwine B, Park A, Velez‐Hernandez ME, Lew L, Mihic SJ, Atkinson NS. F654A and K558Q Mutations in NMDA Receptor 1 Affect Ethanol‐Induced Behaviors in Drosophila. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:2480-2493. [DOI: 10.1111/acer.14215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Troutwine
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas
| | - Annie Park
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas
| | | | - Linda Lew
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas
| | - S. John Mihic
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas
| | - Nigel S. Atkinson
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas
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35
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Network-Specific Synchronization of Electrical Slow-Wave Oscillations Regulates Sleep Drive in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2019; 29:3611-3621.e3. [PMID: 31630955 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Slow-wave rhythms characteristic of deep sleep oscillate in the delta band (0.5-4 Hz) and can be found across various brain regions in vertebrates. Across phyla, however, an understanding of the mechanisms underlying oscillations and how these link to behavior remains limited. Here, we discover compound delta oscillations in the sleep-regulating R5 network of Drosophila. We find that the power of these slow-wave oscillations increases with sleep need and is subject to diurnal variation. Optical multi-unit voltage recordings reveal that single R5 neurons get synchronized by activating circadian input pathways. We show that this synchronization depends on NMDA receptor (NMDAR) coincidence detector function, and that an interplay of cholinergic and glutamatergic inputs regulates oscillatory frequency. Genetically targeting the coincidence detector function of NMDARs in R5, and thus the uncovered mechanism underlying synchronization, abolished network-specific compound slow-wave oscillations. It also disrupted sleep and facilitated light-induced wakening, establishing a role for slow-wave oscillations in regulating sleep and sensory gating. We therefore propose that the synchronization-based increase in oscillatory power likely represents an evolutionarily conserved, potentially "optimal," strategy for constructing sleep-regulating sensory gates.
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36
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Zhou S, DeFranco JP, Blaha NT, Dwivedy P, Culver A, Nallamala H, Chelluri S, Dumas TC. Aversive conditioning in the tardigrade, Dactylobiotus dispar. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY. ANIMAL LEARNING AND COGNITION 2019; 45:405-412. [PMID: 31368766 PMCID: PMC6776688 DOI: 10.1037/xan0000218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Defensive responses to threatening events in the environment are displayed by a vast number of animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate. These defensive responses can be associated with salient neutral stimuli that are present along with the threatening stimulus. This is referred to as aversive conditioning. Animals with more simple nervous systems, such as Aplysia, C elegans, and Drosophila, have facilitated identification of some the physiological processes that support aversive conditioning. Perhaps even more basic information regarding the neurobiology of learning and memory may be gleaned from animals that have special characteristics not found in other species. Tardigrades, also known as "water bears," are microscopic eight-legged animals that live in various aquatic and terrestrial environments. They are known for their resilience to extreme conditions because of their ability to enter a cryptobiotic "tun" state during which they turn off their metabolism. Thus, tardigrades present an ideal model to study the metabolic requirements for memory storage. However, there is no prior research on tardigrade learning and memory. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate aversive conditioning in a tardigrade species, Dactylobiotus dispar. Associative learning was confirmed by numerous control conditions (unconditioned stimulus [US] only, conditional stimulus [CS] only, backward pairing, random pairing). Short-term memories were formed after a single pairing of the CS and US. This research introduces an important new animal model to the study of the neurobiology of aversive conditioning with important ramifications for understanding the metabolic influences on learning and memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Zhou
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA 22312
| | - Joseph P. DeFranco
- Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030
| | - Nicholas T. Blaha
- Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030
| | - Pritty Dwivedy
- Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030
| | - Ashley Culver
- Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030
| | - Hinduja Nallamala
- Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030
| | - Srikanth Chelluri
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA 22312
| | - Theodore C. Dumas
- Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030
- Psychology Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030
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37
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Activity-Dependent Remodeling of Drosophila Olfactory Sensory Neuron Brain Innervation during an Early-Life Critical Period. J Neurosci 2019; 39:2995-3012. [PMID: 30755492 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2223-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Critical periods are windows of development when the environment has a pronounced effect on brain circuitry. Models of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, and schizophrenia, are linked to disruption of critical period remodeling. Critical periods open with the onset of sensory experience; however, it remains unclear exactly how sensory input modifies brain circuits. Here, we examine olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) innervation of the Drosophila antennal lobe of both sexes as a genetic model of this question. We find that olfactory sensory experience during an early-use critical period drives loss of OSN innervation of antennal lobe glomeruli and subsequent axon retraction in a dose-dependent mechanism. This remodeling does not result from olfactory receptor loss or OSN degeneration, but rather from rapid synapse elimination and axon pruning in the target olfactory glomerulus. Removal of the odorant stimulus only during the critical period leads to OSN reinnervation, demonstrating that remodeling is transiently reversible. We find that this synaptic refinement requires the OSN-specific olfactory receptor and downstream activity. Conversely, blocking OSN synaptic output elevates glomeruli remodeling. We find that GABAergic neurotransmission has no detectable role, but that glutamatergic signaling via NMDA receptors is required for OSN synaptic refinement. Together, these results demonstrate that OSN inputs into the brain manifest robust, experience-dependent remodeling during an early-life critical period, which requires olfactory reception, OSN activity, and NMDA receptor signaling. This work reveals a pathway linking initial olfactory sensory experience to glutamatergic neurotransmission in the activity-dependent remodeling of brain neural circuitry in an early-use critical period.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neurodevelopmental disorders manifest symptoms at specific developmental milestones that suggest an intersection between early sensory experience and brain neural circuit remodeling. One classic example is Fragile X syndrome caused by loss of an RNA-binding translation regulator of activity-dependent synaptic refinement. As a model, Drosophila olfactory circuitry is well characterized, genetically tractable, and rapidly developing, and thus ideally suited to probe underlying mechanisms. Here, we find olfactory sensory neurons are dramatically remodeled by heightened sensory experience during an early-life critical period. We demonstrate removing the olfactory stimulus during the critical period can reverse the connectivity changes. We find that this remodeling requires neural activity and NMDA receptor-mediated glutamatergic transmission. This improved understanding may help us design treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Shih MFM, Davis FP, Henry GL, Dubnau J. Nuclear Transcriptomes of the Seven Neuronal Cell Types That Constitute the Drosophila Mushroom Bodies. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2019; 9:81-94. [PMID: 30397017 PMCID: PMC6325895 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The insect mushroom body (MB) is a conserved brain structure that plays key roles in a diverse array of behaviors. The Drosophila melanogaster MB is the primary invertebrate model of neural circuits related to memory formation and storage, and its development, morphology, wiring, and function has been extensively studied. MBs consist of intrinsic Kenyon Cells that are divided into three major neuron classes (γ, α'/β' and α/β) and 7 cell subtypes (γd, γm, α'/β'ap, α'/β'm, α/βp, α/βs and α/βc) based on their birth order, morphology, and connectivity. These subtypes play distinct roles in memory processing, however the underlying transcriptional differences are unknown. Here, we used RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to profile the nuclear transcriptomes of each MB neuronal cell subtypes. We identified 350 MB class- or subtype-specific genes, including the widely used α/β class marker Fas2 and the α'/β' class marker trio Immunostaining corroborates the RNA-seq measurements at the protein level for several cases. Importantly, our data provide a full accounting of the neurotransmitter receptors, transporters, neurotransmitter biosynthetic enzymes, neuropeptides, and neuropeptide receptors expressed within each of these cell types. This high-quality, cell type-level transcriptome catalog for the Drosophila MB provides a valuable resource for the fly neuroscience community.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fred Pejman Davis
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA; National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Gilbert Lee Henry
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
| | - Josh Dubnau
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook School of Medicine; Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
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Abraham WC, Jones OD, Glanzman DL. Is plasticity of synapses the mechanism of long-term memory storage? NPJ SCIENCE OF LEARNING 2019; 4:9. [PMID: 31285847 PMCID: PMC6606636 DOI: 10.1038/s41539-019-0048-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
It has been 70 years since Donald Hebb published his formalized theory of synaptic adaptation during learning. Hebb's seminal work foreshadowed some of the great neuroscientific discoveries of the following decades, including the discovery of long-term potentiation and other lasting forms of synaptic plasticity, and more recently the residence of memories in synaptically connected neuronal assemblies. Our understanding of the processes underlying learning and memory has been dominated by the view that synapses are the principal site of information storage in the brain. This view has received substantial support from research in several model systems, with the vast majority of studies on the topic corroborating a role for synapses in memory storage. Yet, despite the neuroscience community's best efforts, we are still without conclusive proof that memories reside at synapses. Furthermore, an increasing number of non-synaptic mechanisms have emerged that are also capable of acting as memory substrates. In this review, we address the key findings from the synaptic plasticity literature that make these phenomena such attractive memory mechanisms. We then turn our attention to evidence that questions the reliance of memory exclusively on changes at the synapse and attempt to integrate these opposing views.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wickliffe C. Abraham
- Department of Psychology, Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Box 56, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand
| | - Owen D. Jones
- Department of Psychology, Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Box 56, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand
| | - David L. Glanzman
- Departments of Integrative Biology and Physiology, and Neurobiology, and the Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
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Song Q, Feng G, Zhang J, Xia X, Ji M, Lv L, Ping Y. NMDA Receptor-mediated Ca2+ Influx in the Absence of Mg2+ Block Disrupts Rest: Activity Rhythms in Drosophila. Sleep 2018; 40:4330652. [PMID: 29029290 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsx166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Study Objectives The correlated activation of pre- and postsynaptic neurons is essential for the NMDA receptor-mediated Ca2+ influx by removing Mg2+ from block site and NMDA receptors have been implicated in phase resetting of circadian clocks. So we assessed rest:activity rhythms in Mg2+ block defective animals. Methods Using Drosophila locomotor monitoring system, we checked circadian rest:activity rhythms of different mutants under constant darkness (DD) and light:dark (LD) conditions. We recorded NMDA receptor-mediated currents or Ca2+ increase in neurons using patch-clamp and Ca2+ imaging techniques. Results We found that Mg2+ block defective mutant flies were completely arrhythmic under DD. To further understand the role of Mg2+ block in daily circadian rest:activity, we observed the mutant files under LD cycles, and we found severely reduced morning anticipation and advanced evening peak compared to control flies. We also used tissue-specific expression of Mg2+ block defective NMDA receptors and demonstrated pigment-dispersing factor receptor (PDFR)-expressing circadian neurons were implicated in mediating the circadian rest:activity deficits. Endogenous functional NMDA receptors are expressed in most Drosophila neurons, including in a subgroup of dorsal neurons (DN1s). Subsequently, we determined that the uncorrelated extra Ca2+ influx may act in part through Ca2+/Calmodulin (CaM)-stimulated PDE1c pathway leading to morning behavior phenotypes. Conclusions These results demonstrate that Mg2+ block of NMDA receptors at resting potential is essential for the daily circadian rest:activity rhythms and we propose that Mg2+ block functions to suppress CaM-stimulated PDE1c activation at resting potential, thus regulating Ca2+ and cyclic AMP oscillations in circadian and sleep circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Song
- Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ge Feng
- Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaxing Zhang
- Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuechun Xia
- Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Ji
- Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Lv
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Yong Ping
- Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders (No.13dz2260500), Shanghai Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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41
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Miyashita T, Kikuchi E, Horiuchi J, Saitoe M. Long-Term Memory Engram Cells Are Established by c-Fos/CREB Transcriptional Cycling. Cell Rep 2018; 25:2716-2728.e3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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42
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Dong X, Chaisiri K, Xia D, Armstrong SD, Fang Y, Donnelly MJ, Kadowaki T, McGarry JW, Darby AC, Makepeace BL. Genomes of trombidid mites reveal novel predicted allergens and laterally transferred genes associated with secondary metabolism. Gigascience 2018; 7:5160133. [PMID: 30445460 PMCID: PMC6275457 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giy127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Trombidid mites have a unique life cycle in which only the larval stage is ectoparasitic. In the superfamily Trombiculoidea ("chiggers"), the larvae feed preferentially on vertebrates, including humans. Species in the genus Leptotrombidium are vectors of a potentially fatal bacterial infection, scrub typhus, that affects 1 million people annually. Moreover, chiggers can cause pruritic dermatitis (trombiculiasis) in humans and domesticated animals. In the Trombidioidea (velvet mites), the larvae feed on other arthropods and are potential biological control agents for agricultural pests. Here, we present the first trombidid mites genomes, obtained both for a chigger, Leptotrombidium deliense, and for a velvet mite, Dinothrombium tinctorium. Results Sequencing was performed using Illumina technology. A 180 Mb draft assembly for D. tinctorium was generated from two paired-end and one mate-pair library using a single adult specimen. For L. deliense, a lower-coverage draft assembly (117 Mb) was obtained using pooled, engorged larvae with a single paired-end library. Remarkably, both genomes exhibited evidence of ancient lateral gene transfer from soil-derived bacteria or fungi. The transferred genes confer functions that are rare in animals, including terpene and carotenoid synthesis. Thirty-seven allergenic protein families were predicted in the L. deliense genome, of which nine were unique. Preliminary proteomic analyses identified several of these putative allergens in larvae. Conclusions Trombidid mite genomes appear to be more dynamic than those of other acariform mites. A priority for future research is to determine the biological function of terpene synthesis in this taxon and its potential for exploitation in disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Dong
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom.,Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China.,School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China.,Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom
| | - Kittipong Chaisiri
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom.,Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Dong Xia
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom.,The Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart D Armstrong
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom
| | - Yongxiang Fang
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J Donnelly
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Tatsuhiko Kadowaki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - John W McGarry
- Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RP, United Kingdom
| | - Alistair C Darby
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom
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43
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Not All Predictions Are Equal: "What" and "When" Predictions Modulate Activity in Auditory Cortex through Different Mechanisms. J Neurosci 2018; 38:8680-8693. [PMID: 30143578 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0369-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 07/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Using predictions based on environmental regularities is fundamental for adaptive behavior. While it is widely accepted that predictions across different stimulus attributes (e.g., time and content) facilitate sensory processing, it is unknown whether predictions across these attributes rely on the same neural mechanism. Here, to elucidate the neural mechanisms of predictions, we combine invasive electrophysiological recordings (human electrocorticography in 4 females and 2 males) with computational modeling while manipulating predictions about content ("what") and time ("when"). We found that "when" predictions increased evoked activity over motor and prefrontal regions both at early (∼180 ms) and late (430-450 ms) latencies. "What" predictability, however, increased evoked activity only over prefrontal areas late in time (420-460 ms). Beyond these dissociable influences, we found that "what" and "when" predictability interactively modulated the amplitude of early (165 ms) evoked responses in the superior temporal gyrus. We modeled the observed neural responses using biophysically realistic neural mass models, to better understand whether "what" and "when" predictions tap into similar or different neurophysiological mechanisms. Our modeling results suggest that "what" and "when" predictability rely on complementary neural processes: "what" predictions increased short-term plasticity in auditory areas, whereas "when" predictability increased synaptic gain in motor areas. Thus, content and temporal predictions engage complementary neural mechanisms in different regions, suggesting domain-specific prediction signaling along the cortical hierarchy. Encoding predictions through different mechanisms may endow the brain with the flexibility to efficiently signal different sources of predictions, weight them by their reliability, and allow for their encoding without mutual interference.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Predictions of different stimulus features facilitate sensory processing. However, it is unclear whether predictions of different attributes rely on similar or different neural mechanisms. By combining invasive electrophysiological recordings of cortical activity with experimental manipulations of participants' predictions about content and time of acoustic events, we found that the two types of predictions had dissociable influences on cortical activity, both in terms of the regions involved and the timing of the observed effects. Further, our biophysical modeling analysis suggests that predictability of content and time rely on complementary neural processes: short-term plasticity in auditory areas and synaptic gain in motor areas, respectively. This suggests that predictions of different features are encoded with complementary neural mechanisms in different brain regions.
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Tumkaya T, Ott S, Claridge-Chang A. A systematic review of Drosophila short-term-memory genetics: Meta-analysis reveals robust reproducibility. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 95:361-382. [PMID: 30077573 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Geneticists use olfactory conditioning in Drosophila to identify learning genes; however, little is known about how these genes are integrated into short-term memory (STM) pathways. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that the STM evidence base is weak. We performed systematic review and meta-analysis of the field. Using metrics to quantify variation between discovery articles and follow-up studies, we found that seven genes were both highly replicated, and highly reproducible. However, ∼80% of STM genes have never been replicated. While only a few studies investigated interactions, the reviewed genes could account for >1000% memory. This large summed effect size could indicate irreproducibility, many shared pathways, or that current assay protocols lack the specificity needed to identify core plasticity genes. Mechanistic theories of memory will require the convergence of evidence from system, circuit, cellular, molecular, and genetic experiments; systematic data synthesis is an essential tool for integrated neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayfun Tumkaya
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, A(⁎)STAR, Singapore; Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Stanislav Ott
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Adam Claridge-Chang
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, A(⁎)STAR, Singapore; Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
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45
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Big Lessons from Tiny Flies: Drosophila melanogaster as a Model to Explore Dysfunction of Dopaminergic and Serotonergic Neurotransmitter Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19061788. [PMID: 29914172 PMCID: PMC6032372 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain of Drosophila melanogaster is comprised of some 100,000 neurons, 127 and 80 of which are dopaminergic and serotonergic, respectively. Their activity regulates behavioral functions equivalent to those in mammals, e.g., motor activity, reward and aversion, memory formation, feeding, sexual appetite, etc. Mammalian dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons are known to be heterogeneous. They differ in their projections and in their gene expression profile. A sophisticated genetic tool box is available, which allows for targeting virtually any gene with amazing precision in Drosophila melanogaster. Similarly, Drosophila genes can be replaced by their human orthologs including disease-associated alleles. Finally, genetic manipulation can be restricted to single fly neurons. This has allowed for addressing the role of individual neurons in circuits, which determine attraction and aversion, sleep and arousal, odor preference, etc. Flies harboring mutated human orthologs provide models which can be interrogated to understand the effect of the mutant protein on cell fate and neuronal connectivity. These models are also useful for proof-of-concept studies to examine the corrective action of therapeutic strategies. Finally, experiments in Drosophila can be readily scaled up to an extent, which allows for drug screening with reasonably high throughput.
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46
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Aw SS, Lim IKH, Tang MXM, Cohen SM. A Glio-Protective Role of mir-263a by Tuning Sensitivity to Glutamate. Cell Rep 2018; 19:1783-1793. [PMID: 28564598 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate is a ubiquitous neurotransmitter, mediating information flow between neurons. Defects in the regulation of glutamatergic transmission can result in glutamate toxicity, which is associated with neurodegeneration. Interestingly, glutamate receptors are expressed in glia, but little is known about their function, and the effects of their misregulation, in these non-neuronal cells. Here, we report a glio-protective role for Drosophila mir-263a mediated by its regulation of glutamate receptor levels in glia. mir-263a mutants exhibit a pronounced movement defect due to aberrant overexpression of CG5621/Grik, Nmdar1, and Nmdar2. mir-263a mutants exhibit excitotoxic death of a subset of astrocyte-like and ensheathing glia in the CNS. Glial-specific normalization of glutamate receptor levels restores cell numbers and suppresses the movement defect. Therefore, microRNA-mediated regulation of glutamate receptor levels protects glia from excitotoxicity, ensuring CNS health. Chronic low-level glutamate receptor overexpression due to mutations affecting microRNA (miRNA) regulation might contribute to glial dysfunction and CNS impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry Shiying Aw
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673, Singapore.
| | - Isaac Kok Hwee Lim
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Melissa Xue Mei Tang
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Stephen Michael Cohen
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673, Singapore.
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Abedi Z, Khaza'ai H, Vidyadaran S, Mutalib MSA. The Modulation of NMDA and AMPA/Kainate Receptors by Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction and Α-Tocopherol in Glutamate-Induced Injury of Primary Astrocytes. Biomedicines 2017; 5:biomedicines5040068. [PMID: 29194360 PMCID: PMC5744092 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines5040068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are known as structural and supporting cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Glutamate, as a main excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, can be excitotoxic, playing a key role in many chronic neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the current study was to elucidate the potential of vitamin E in protecting glutamate-injured primary astrocytes. Hence, primary astrocytes were isolated from mixed glial cells of C57BL/6 mice by applying the EasySep® Mouse CD11b Positive Selection Kit, cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM) and supplemented with special nutrients. The IC20 and IC50 values of glutamate, as well as the cell viability of primary astrocytes, were assessed with 100 ng/mL, 200 ng/mL, and 300 ng/mL of tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) and alpha-tocopherol (α-TCP), as determined by an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) detected in primary astrocytes was assessed with the same concentrations of TRF and α-TCP. The expression levels of the ionotropic glutamate receptor genes (Gria2, Grin2A, GRIK1) were independently determined using RT-PCR. The purification rate of astrocytes was measured by a flow-cytometer as circa 79.4%. The IC20 and IC50 values of glutamate were determined as 10 mM and 100 mM, respectively. Exposure to 100 mM of glutamate in primary astrocytes caused the inhibition of cell viability of approximately 64.75% and 61.10% in pre- and post-study, respectively (p < 0.05). Both TRF and α-TCP (at the lowest and highest concentrations, respectively) were able to increase the MMP to 88.46% and 93.31% pre-treatment, and 78.43% and 81.22% post-treatment, respectively. Additionally, the findings showed a similar pattern for the expression level of the ionotropic glutamate receptor genes. Increased extracellular calcium concentrations were also observed, indicating that the presence of vitamin E altered the polarization of astrocytes. In conclusion, α-TCP showed better recovery and prophylactic effects as compared to TRF in the pre-treatment of glutamate-injured primary astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Abedi
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University Putra Malaysia, Jalan Upm, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia.
| | - Huzwah Khaza'ai
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University Putra Malaysia, Jalan Upm, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia.
| | - Sharmili Vidyadaran
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University Putra Malaysia, Jalan Upm, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia.
| | - Mohd Sokhini Abd Mutalib
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University Putra Malaysia, Jalan Upm, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia.
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48
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Zimmerman JE, Chan MT, Lenz OT, Keenan BT, Maislin G, Pack AI. Glutamate Is a Wake-Active Neurotransmitter in Drosophila melanogaster. Sleep 2017; 40:2667755. [PMID: 28364503 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsw046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In mammals, there is evidence that glutamate has a role as a wake-active neurotransmitter. So using video-based analysis of Drosophila behavior, we undertook a study to examine if glutamate, which has been previously shown to have an excitatory role in neuromuscular junctions in Drosophila, may have a conserved wake-active role in the adult brain. Aims and Methods Using 6- to 9-day-old female flies, we examined the effect of perturbations of the glutamatergic signaling on total wakefulness and wake bout architecture. We increased and decreased neuronal activity of glutamatergic neurons in the brains of adult flies using Upstream Activating Sequence (UAS) NaChBac and UAS EKO, respectively. We blocked neurotransmission from glutamatergic neurons in adult flies using the UAS-driven temperature-sensitive dynamin mutation shibirets. We examined the behavior of flies with loss of function mutations of individual subunits of brain-specific ionotropic glutamate receptors. Results Increasing the activity of glutamatergic neurons in the adult brain led to a significant increase in wakefulness compared to the control groups both in the daytime and nighttime and decreasing the activity of these same neurons reduced wakefulness in the nighttime. Blocking neurotransmitter release in glutamatergic neurons significantly reduced wake in the nighttime. The ionotropic receptor mutants had significantly less wake in the nighttime than their respective genetic background controls. Conclusion The results show the following: glutamate is indeed a wake-active neurotransmitter in Drosophila; there is a major time of day effect associated with loss of glutamatergic neurotransmission; and it is a major wake-active neurotransmitter in the nighttime.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Zimmerman
- Center for Sleep & Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 125 S. 31st St., Philadelphia, PA
| | - May T Chan
- Center for Sleep & Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 125 S. 31st St., Philadelphia, PA
| | - Olivia T Lenz
- Center for Sleep & Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 125 S. 31st St., Philadelphia, PA
| | - Brendan T Keenan
- Center for Sleep & Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 125 S. 31st St., Philadelphia, PA
| | - Greg Maislin
- Center for Sleep & Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 125 S. 31st St., Philadelphia, PA.,Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.,Biomedical Statistical Consulting, 1357 Garden Rd, Wynnewood, PA
| | - Allan I Pack
- Center for Sleep & Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 125 S. 31st St., Philadelphia, PA.,Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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Feng G, Pang J, Yi X, Song Q, Zhang J, Li C, He G, Ping Y. Down-Regulation of K V4 Channel in Drosophila Mushroom Body Neurons Contributes to Aβ42-Induced Courtship Memory Deficits. Neuroscience 2017. [PMID: 28627422 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) is widely believed to be an early event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Kv4 is an A-type K+ channel, and our previous report shows the degradation of Kv4, induced by the Aβ42 accumulation, may be a critical contributor to the hyperexcitability of neurons in a Drosophila AD model. Here, we used well-established courtship memory assay to investigate the contribution of the Kv4 channel to short-term memory (STM) deficits in the Aβ42-expressing AD model. We found that Aβ42 over-expression in Drosophila leads to age-dependent courtship STM loss, which can be also induced by driving acute Aβ42 expression post-developmentally. Interestingly, mutants with eliminated Kv4-mediated A-type K+ currents (IA) by transgenically expressing dominant-negative subunit (DNKv4) phenocopied Aβ42 flies in defective courtship STM. Kv4 channels in mushroom body (MB) and projection neurons (PNs) were found to be required for courtship STM. Furthermore, the STM phenotypes can be rescued, at least partially, by restoration of Kv4 expression in Aβ42 flies, indicating the STM deficits could be partially caused by Kv4 degradation. In addition, IA is significantly decreased in MB neurons (MBNs) but not in PNs, suggesting Kv4 degradation in MBNs, in particular, plays a critical role in courtship STM loss in Aβ42 flies. These data highlight causal relationship between region-specific Kv4 degradation and age-dependent learning decline in the AD model, and provide a mechanism for the disturbed cognitive function in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Feng
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders (No.13dz2260500), Shanghai Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Jie Pang
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders (No.13dz2260500), Shanghai Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Xin Yi
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qian Song
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jiaxing Zhang
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Can Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Guang He
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yong Ping
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders (No.13dz2260500), Shanghai Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.
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Nishijima S, Maruyama IN. Appetitive Olfactory Learning and Long-Term Associative Memory in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:80. [PMID: 28507513 PMCID: PMC5410607 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Because of the relative simplicity of its nervous system, Caenorhabditis elegans is a useful model organism to study learning and memory at cellular and molecular levels. For appetitive conditioning in C. elegans, food has exclusively been used as an unconditioned stimulus (US). It may be difficult to analyze neuronal circuits for associative memory since food is a multimodal combination of olfactory, gustatory, and mechanical stimuli. Here, we report classical appetitive conditioning and associative memory in C. elegans, using 1-nonanol as a conditioned stimulus (CS), and potassium chloride (KCl) as a US. Before conditioning, C. elegans innately avoided 1-nonanol, an aversive olfactory stimulus, and was attracted by KCl, an appetitive gustatory stimulus, on assay agar plates. Both massed training without an intertrial interval (ITI) and spaced training with a 10-min ITI induced significant levels of memory of association regarding the two chemicals. Memory induced by massed training decayed within 6 h, while that induced by spaced training was retained for more than 6 h. Animals treated with inhibitors of transcription or translation formed the memory induced by spaced training less efficiently than untreated animals, whereas the memory induced by massed training was not significantly affected by such treatments. By definition, therefore, memories induced by massed training and spaced training are classified as short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM), respectively. When animals conditioned by spaced training were exposed to 1-nonanol alone, their learning index was lower than that of untreated animals, suggesting that extinction learning occurs in C. elegans. In support of these results, C. elegans mutants defective in nmr-1, encoding an NMDA receptor subunit, formed both STM and LTM less efficiently than wild-type animals, while mutations in crh-1, encoding a ubiquitous transcription factor CREB required for memory consolidation, affected LTM, but not STM. The paradigm established in the present study should allow us to elucidate neuronal circuit plasticity for appetitive learning and memory in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ichiro N. Maruyama
- Information Processing Biology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate UniversityOkinawa, Japan
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