The Role of Histone Demethylases in Learning and Memory in the Mushroom Body of Drosophila melanogaster
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with many epigenetic regulators and chromatin modifying enzymes like histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) and demethylases (KDMs). Here, I systematically investigate the role of 7 KDMs: Su(var)3-3, KDM2, Lid, CG2982, UTX, KDM4B, JHDM2, and 1 KMT: trr in the context of learning and memory using Drosophila melanogaster. Genetic knockdown of each gene in the mushroom body (MB) of flies are tested for short- and long-term memory impairment using courtship conditioning. Knockdown of 6 KDMs and trr resulted in memory loss. MB morphology was analyzed to determine potential cause of memory loss. However, no gross morphological defects were observed following knockdown. This suggests the cause of memory loss is not due to structural deformities to the MB but may be due to defects in memory-dependent transcriptional activation or cell identity. These findings will help uncover the roles of KDMs in regulated neuronal processes and Drosophila memory.