In vivo protein phosphorylation in Drosophila mutants defective in learning and memory

Polypeptides phosphorylated in vivo in Drosophila mutants defective in learning and memory, were characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of subcellular fractions obtained by phase partitioning in Triton X-114 [3]. In the mutants turnip, dunce and Shaker, one or more bands at a molecular weight range of 50-80 kDa had altered 32P incorporation. Some of these bands were altered in more than one mutant. In the mutant rutabaga no significant differences from wild-type were observed. The data suggest that phosphoproteins that could be potentially related to learning mechanisms might be identified in some learning mutants.