Targeted kinase inhibition relieves slowness and tremor in a Drosophila model of LRRK2 Parkinson's disease.

ABSTRACT: In a number of Drosophila models of genetic Parkinson's disease (PD) flies climb more slowly than wild-type controls. However, this assay does not distinguish effects of PD-related genes on gravity sensation, "arousal", central pattern generation of leg movements, or muscle. To address this problem, we have developed an assay for the fly proboscis extension response (PER). This is attractive because the PER has a simple, well-identified reflex neural circuit, in which sucrose sensing neurons activate a pair of "command interneurons", and thence motoneurons whose activity contracts the proboscis muscle. This circuit is modulated by a single dopaminergic neuron (TH-VUM). We find that expressing either the G2019S or I2020T (but not R1441C, or kinase dead) forms of

SUBMITTER: Cording AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5715132 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature