Genetic approaches to improve aging-related memory impairment in fruit flies

Discovery of genetic factors involved in the control of behaviors is important, since it can not only improve the understanding of behaviors but offer opportunity to develop treatments for behavioral disorders. Facing this challenge, fruit flies ( Drosophila melanogaster ), which show complicated behaviors in various aspects and of which genome-wide transgenic and mutant stocks are available, are useful model animals. Fly memory is impaired with aging, as humans. Thus, it is called aging-related memory impairment (AMI). We have been looking for genes improving AMI. Fly model of these AMI is established, using the aversive olfactory learning/memory paradigm. Because there is a tendency that the AMI is delayed as lifespan is extended, we hypothesized that genes improving AMI should exist among the genes that extend the lifespan. In our previous studies, a pool of novel lifespan-extending genes was screened by measuring lifespan of approximately 30 thousand transgenic fly stocks. Among these novel lifespan-extending genes, a handful of genes expressed in the nervous system was selected for the primary candidate genes improving AMI. We identified several genes improving learning ability of the tauopathy model, among these genes. Further studies have been conducted to reveal whether and how these genes are associated with AMI.