A role for presenilin in post-stress regulation: Effects of presenilin mutations on Ca2+ currents in Drosophila

Yisheng Lu, Yubing Lv, Yihong Ye, Yalin Wang, Yu Hong, Mark E. Fortini, Yi Zhong, Zuoping Xie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

It has been shown that presenilin is involved in maintaining Ca 2+ homeostasis in neurons, including regulating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ storage. From studies of primary cultures and cell lines, however, its role in stress-induced responses is still controversial. In the present study we analyzed the effects of presenilin mutations on membrane currents and synaptic functions in response to stress using an in vivo preparation. We examined voltage-gated K+ and Ca2+ currents at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) with voltage-clamp recordings. Our data showed that both currents were generally unaffected by loss-of-function or Alzheimer's disease (AD) -associated presenilin mutations under normal or stress conditions induced by heat shock (HS) or ER stress. In larvae expressing the mutant presenilins, prolonged Ca2+ tail current, reflecting slower deactivation kinetics of Ca 2+ channels, was observed 1 day after stress treatments were terminated. It was further demonstrated that the L-type Ca2+ channel was specifically affected under these conditions. Moreover, synaptic plasticity at the NMJ was reduced in larvae expressing the mutant presenilins. At the behavioral level, memory in adult flies was impaired in the presenilin mutants 1 day after HS. The results show that presenilin function is important during the poststress period and its impairment contributes to memory dysfunction observed during adaptation to normal conditions after stress. Our findings suggest a new stress-related mechanism by which presenilin may be implicated in the neuropathology of AD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2368-2378
Number of pages11
JournalFASEB Journal
Volume21
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Heat shock
  • L-type Ca channel
  • Synaptic function

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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