Presynaptic active zone proteins and spatial working memory in Drosophila melanogaster

• Applicant: Dr. Kirsa Neuser
• Subject Area: Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
• Term: from 2012 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 221161289

This project aims to test whether the neuronal correlate of working memory can be linked to the molecular organisation of presynaptic active zones. To date it remains unclear, which neuronal substrate accounts for the storage of an input information during the very short form of retention in working memory processes. Nevertheless synapses can be dynamically modulated dependent on input, connection and history, a phenomenon termed synaptic plasticity. In particular, synaptic active zones are the sites of vesicle release and their elements undergo Ca2+ dependent activation whenever a neuron gets excited. Therefore active zone composites likely are modulators of synaptic efficacy at the short-time scale.To test the proposed hypothesis the learning behaviour of Drosophila melanogaster, lacking normal levels of active zone proteins within neurons necessary for working memory will be examined using a spatial working memory task. According to earlier results, distinct sets of central brain neurons required for working memory formation will be identified. Furthermore the physiological impact of relevant active zone proteins on working memory formation as a form of short-term synaptic plasticity will be assessed using the well-established electrophysiology at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. This set of experiments allows testing of the proposed hypothesis by the link of anatomy, behaviour and physiology. The project objectives require structural and ultrastructural microscopy, the behavioural analysis of transgenic flies and high temporal resolution electrophysiology.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants