Memory in Space and Time

Expression of the rutabaga-encoded type I adenylyl cyclase in Drosophila mushroom bodies can rescue the short-term memory defect in rutabaga mutant flies. In order to differentiate between a potential developmental role of the adenylyl cyclase from its acute function in memory formation, McGuire et al. developed a system to control both temporal and spatial expression of a transgene in Drosophila. Using this system, rutabaga expression in the mushroom bodies during adulthood allowed for normal memory acquisition by otherwise mutant rutabaga animals. This technique will be useful more generally to study when and where gene products are needed during the lifetime of an organism. S. E. McGuire, P. T. Le, A. J. Osborn, K. Matsumoto, R. L. Davis, Spatiotemporal rescue of memory dysfunction in Drosophila. Science 302, 1765-1768 (2003). [Abstract] [Full Text]