Gilgamesh is required for rutabaga-independent olfactory learning in Drosophila.

Cyclic AMP signaling in Drosophila mushroom body neurons, anchored by the adenylyl cyclase encoded by the rutabaga gene, is indispensable for olfactory memory formation. From a screen for new memory mutants, we identified alleles of the gilgamesh (gish) gene, which encodes a casein kinase Iγ homolog that is preferentially expressed in the mushroom body neurons. The gish-encoded kinase participates in the physiology of these neurons underlying memory formation since the mutant memory deficit was rescued with expression of a gish cDNA in these neurons only during adulthood. A cellular memory trace, detected as increased calcium influx into the α'/β' neuron processes in response to the odor used for conditioning, was disrupted in gish mutants. Epistasis experiments indicated a lack of genetic interactions between gish and rutabaga. Therefore, gish participates in a rutabaga-independent pathway for memory formation and accounts for some of the residual learning that occurs in rutabaga mutants.

Tan Y ，Yu D ，Pletting J ，Davis RL ... -  《-》

A distinct set of Drosophila brain neurons required for neurofibromatosis type 1-dependent learning and memory.

Buchanan ME ，Davis RL 《-》

Null EPAC mutants reveal a sequential order of versatile cAMP effects during Drosophila aversive odor learning.

Here, we define a role of the cAMP intermediate EPAC in Drosophila aversive odor learning by means of null epac mutants. Complementation analysis revealed that EPAC acts downstream from the rutabaga adenylyl cyclase and in parallel to protein kinase A. By means of targeted knockdown and genetic rescue we identified mushroom body Kenyon cells (KCs) as a necessary and sufficient site of EPAC action. We provide mechanistic insights by analyzing acquisition dynamics and using the "performance increment" as a means to access the trial-based sequential organization of odor learning. Thereby we show that versatile cAMP-dependent mechanisms are engaged within a sequential order that correlate to individual trials of the training session.

Richlitzki A ，Latour P ，Schwärzel M 《-》

Short- and long-term memory in Drosophila require cAMP signaling in distinct neuron types.

Blum AL ，Li W ，Cressy M ，Dubnau J ... -  《-》

Roles for Drosophila mushroom body neurons in olfactory learning and memory.

Akalal DB ，Wilson CF ，Zong L ，Tanaka NK ，Ito K ，Davis RL ... -  《-》