Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 regulates olfactory memory and synaptic function in Drosophila

0355637 - BC 2011 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Knight, D. - Harvey, P. J. - Iliadi, K. G. - Klose, M. K. - Iliadi, N. - Doleželová, Eva - Charlton, M. P. - Žurovec, Michal - Boulianne, G. L.
Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 regulates olfactory memory and synaptic function in Drosophila.
Journal of Neuroscience. Roč. 30, č. 14 (2010), s. 5047-5057. ISSN 0270-6474. E-ISSN 1529-2401
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LC06077
Grant - others:Canadian Institutes of Health Research(CA) MOP 14143; Canadian Institutes of Health Research(CA) MOP 67130
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50070508
Keywords : Drosophila
Subject RIV: ED - Physiology
Impact factor: 7.271, year: 2010

Nucleoside transporters are evolutionarily conserved proteins that are essential for normal cellular function. In the present study, we examined the role of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 (ent2) in Drosophila. Null mutants of ent2 are lethal during late larval/early pupal stages, indicating that ent2 is essential for normal development. Hypomorphic mutant alleles of ent2, however, are viable and exhibit reduced associative learning. We additionally used RNA interference to knock down ent2 expression in specific regions of the CNS and show that ent2 is required in the alpha/beta lobes of the mushroom bodies and the antennal lobes. To determine whether the observed behavioral defects are attributable to defects in synaptic transmission, we examined transmitter release at the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Excitatory junction potentials were significantly elevated in ent2 mutants, whereas paired-pulse plasticity was reduced.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0194359