Disruption of Gs signaling in mushroom bodies alters courtship memory in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

The mushroom body (MB) brain area has been shown to be important for memory of courtship conditioning and learning of associative olfactory conditioning in Drosophila melanogaster. Despite the implication of Gαs, the αs subunit of GTP-binding protein, in MB function, its specific role in courtship memory has not been established. In this study, we investigated the role of Gαs signaling in MBs during courtship memory by expressing a constitutively active form of Gαs (Gαs*) specifically in the MBs. Our result showed that 60-minute courtship memory was completely disrupted in flies expressing Gαs*, but was normal in control flies. This indicated that Gαs signaling in MBs is required for short-term courtship memory in Drosophila