From Drosophila development to adult: Clues to notch function in longterm memory

Abstract

Notch is a cell surface receptor that is well known to mediate intercellular communication during animal development. Data in the field indicate that it is also involved in the formation of longterm memory (LTM) in the fully developed adults and in memory loss upon neurodegeneration. Our studies in the model organism Drosophila reveal that a noncanonical Notch-protein kinase C activity that plays critical roles in embryonic development also regulates cyclic-AMP response element binding protein during LTM formation in adults. Here we present a perspective on how the various known features of Notch function relate to LTM formation and how they might interface with elements of Wingless/Wnt signaling in this process. © 2013Zhang,YinandWesley.