A neurofibromatosis-1-regulated pathway is required for learning in Drosophila

Hui-Fu Guo, Jiayuan Tong, Frances Hannan, Lin Luo and Yi Zhong
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Hui-Fu Guo: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, P.O. Box 100
Jiayuan Tong: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, P.O. Box 100
Frances Hannan: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, P.O. Box 100
Lin Luo: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, P.O. Box 100
Yi Zhong: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, P.O. Box 100

Nature, 2000, vol. 403, issue 6772, 895-898

Abstract: Abstract The tumour-suppressor gene Neurofibromatosis 1 (Nf1) encodes a Ras-specific GTPase activating protein (Ras-GAP)1,2,3,4,5. In addition to being involved in tumour formation6,7, NF1 has been reported to cause learning defects in humans8,9,10 and Nf1 knockout mice11. However, it remains to be determined whether the observed learning defect is secondary to abnormal development. The Drosophila NF1 protein is highly conserved, showing 60% identity of its 2,803 amino acids with human NF1 (ref. 12). Previous studies have suggested that Drosophila NF1 acts not only as a Ras-GAP but also as a possible regulator of the cAMP pathway that involves the rutabaga (rut)-encoded adenylyl cyclase13. Because rut was isolated as a learning and short-term memory mutant14,15, we have pursued the hypothesis that NF1 may affect learning through its control of the Rut-adenylyl cyclase/cAMP pathway. Here we show that NF1 affects learning and short-term memory independently of its developmental effects. We show that G-protein-activated adenylyl cyclase activity consists of NF1-independent and NF1-dependent components, and that the mechanism of the NF1-dependent activation of the Rut-adenylyl cyclase pathway is essential for mediating Drosophila learning and memory.

Date: 2000
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DOI: 10.1038/35002593

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