AUTHOR=Schoenfeld Brian P., Choi Richard J., Choi Catherine H., Terlizzi Allison M., Hinchey Paul , Kollaros Maria , Ferrick Neal J., Koenigsberg Eric H., Ferreiro David , Leibelt David A., Siegel Steve J., Bell Aaron J., McDonald Thomas V., Jongens Thomas A., McBride Sean M.

TITLE=The Drosophila DmGluRA is required for social interaction and memory

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=4

YEAR=2013

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2013.00064

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2013.00064

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) have well-established roles in cognition and social behavior in mammals. Whether or not these roles have been conserved throughout evolution from invertebrate species is less clear. Mammals have eight mGluRs whereas <italic>Drosophila</italic> has a single <italic>DmGluRA</italic>, which has both Gi and Gq coupled signaling activity. We have utilized <italic>Drosophila</italic> to examine the role of <italic>DmGluRA</italic> in social behavior and various phases of memory. We have found that flies that are homozygous or heterozygous for loss of function mutations of <italic>DmGluRA</italic> have impaired social behavior in male <italic>Drosophila</italic>. Futhermore, flies that are heterozygous for loss of function mutations of <italic>DmGluRA</italic> have impaired learning during training, immediate-recall memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory as young adults. This work demonstrates a role for mGluR activity in both social behavior and memory in <italic>Drosophila</italic>.</p>