IFIBIO HOUSSAY   25014
INSTITUTO DE FISIOLOGIA Y BIOFISICA BERNARDO HOUSSAY
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
The small G-protein RAS modulates olfactory memory and synaptic plasticity of neuromuscular junction in Drosophila
Autor/es:
ALVARO SAN MARTÍN; SERGIO E. LEW; MARIO RAFAEL PAGANI
Lugar:
Huerta Grande, Cordoba
Reunión:
Congreso; XXIX CONGRESO ANUAL DE LA SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE INVESTIGACION EN NEUROCIENCIAS; 2014
Resumen:
RASopathies are a group of genetic disorders caused by mutations in genes encoding for components of the Ras/MAPK signaling pathway. These mutations produce a higher activity of the pathway, which is a hallmark of these disorders. Learning disability is a common cognitive alteration in this group of disorders. The small G-Protein Ras appears to be a central component in RASopathies. However, its role in memory and plasticity is poorly understood. Here we present studies showing the role of Ras on olfactory memory and synaptic plasticity in an ex vivo preparation of the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Suppressing Ras activity by genetic manipulations in mushroom bodies, a brain region essential for learning and memory in insects, reduced memory after 24hr spaced training, but not after massed training or immediate memory. Enhancing Ras activity increased memory after massed training. On the other hand, NMJ stimulated with high K+ concentration in a spaced protocol produced new synaptic boutons, whereas a pseudo-massed did not. Enhancing Ras activity in motor neurons blocked boutons formation after a spaced stimulation, while Ras suppression promotes the formation of new boutons after both types of stimulation. These observations provide new insight on the role of Ras in spaced training for memory formation and in spaced stimulations for structural plasticity.