Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 31, 2026

Assessing Neurodegenerative Phenotypes in Drosophila Dopaminergic Neurons by Climbing Assays and Whole Brain Immunostaining
09:17

Assessing Neurodegenerative Phenotypes in Drosophila Dopaminergic Neurons by Climbing Assays and Whole Brain Immunostaining

Published on: April 24, 2013

20.2K

Expression of human amyloid precursor protein in Drosophila melanogaster nerve cells causes a decrease in presynaptic

D I Rodin1, A L Schwarzman2, S V Sarantseva

  • 1Molecular and Radiation Biophysics Division, National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute" B.P. Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina, Russia rodin.dmitry@icloud.com.

Genetics and Molecular Research : GMR
|September 9, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its fragments may regulate synaptic gene transcription. This study in fruit flies shows APP expression significantly reduces key presynaptic protein mRNA levels.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Alzheimer's disease is linked to amyloid precursor protein (APP).
  • APP cleavage produces amyloid-beta peptides, a major component of senile plaques.
  • The precise functions of APP and its fragments remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional role of APP and its fragments.
  • To explore the potential impact of APP on synaptic gene expression.

Main Methods:

  • Exogenous expression of APP, APP-Swedish mutant, and truncated APP forms in Drosophila melanogaster.
  • Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to quantify mRNA levels.

Main Results:

  • Exogenous expression of APP, APP-Swedish, or truncated forms significantly reduced mRNA levels of synaptotagmin-1.
  • A significant drop in neuronal synaptobrevin mRNA levels was observed.
  • Observed changes were statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • APP or its fragments may play a role in regulating synaptic gene transcription.
  • Findings suggest a novel function for APP beyond its established role in Alzheimer's disease pathology.

More Related Videos

Monitoring Cell-to-cell Transmission of Prion-like Protein Aggregates in Drosophila Melanogaster10:26

Monitoring Cell-to-cell Transmission of Prion-like Protein Aggregates in Drosophila Melanogaster

Published on: March 12, 2018

8.5K
Visualizing Synaptic Degeneration in Adult Drosophila in Association with Neurodegeneration06:10

Visualizing Synaptic Degeneration in Adult Drosophila in Association with Neurodegeneration

Published on: May 13, 2020

6.9K

Related Concept Videos

Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...