Integrin-mediated short-term memory in Drosophila

Michael S. Grotewiel, Christine D. O. Beck, Kwok Hang Wu, Xin-Ran Zhu and Ronald L. Davis ()
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Michael S. Grotewiel: Baylor College of Medicine
Christine D. O. Beck: Baylor College of Medicine
Kwok Hang Wu: Columbia University
Xin-Ran Zhu: Institut fur Neurale Signalverarbeitung
Ronald L. Davis: Baylor College of Medicine

Nature, 1998, vol. 391, issue 6666, 455-460

Abstract: Abstract Volado is a new memory mutant of Drosophila. The locus encodes two isoforms of a new α-integrin, a molecule that dynamically mediates cell adhesion and signal transduction. The Volado gene is expressed preferentially in mushroom body cells, which are neurons known to mediate olfactory learning in insects. Volado proteins are concentrated in the mushroom body neuropil, brain areas that contain mushroom body processes in synaptic contact with other neurons. Volado mutants display impaired olfactory memories within 3 min of training, indicating that the integrin is required for short-term memory processes. Conditional expression of a Volado transgene during adulthood rescues the memory impairment. This rescue of memory is reversible, fading over time along with expression of the transgene. Thus the Volado integrin is essential for the physiological processes underlying memory. We propose a model in which integrins act as dynamic regulators of synapse structure or the signalling events underlying short-term memory formation.

Date: 1998
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DOI: 10.1038/35079

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