Homozygous pummilord-1 mutants show increased sensitivity to ethanol vapor compared with controls. pummilord-1 mutant flies also show reduced tolerance to ethanol. Whereas control flies exhibit a reduced behavioural response following pre-exposure to ethanol in comparison with humidified air, pummilord-1 mutant flies exposed to either ethanol or air produce a similar response.
In memory tests, mutants perform at % of wild-type after a single training session, at % after spaced training.
Homozygotes exhibit severe defects in one-day memory after spaced training. Heterozygotes exhibit a weaker phenotype.
Etymology: Given the name "milord", after one of Pavlov's dogs.