Ectopic expression of mir-980sponge.V2.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry under the control of Scer\GAL4elav-C155 enhances 3 min, 1 hr and 3 hr memory but not 9 hr or 24 hr memory in an aversive olfactory memory assay in adults compared to controls, they also display improved memory acquisition, showing increased 3 min memory index after training with 2,3,4 or 12 (but not 6) shocks. Normalizing the memory index scores to their initial performance measured immediately after training (3 min) shows increased 3 hr memory retention by mir-980sponge.V2.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry expressing flies (subjected to 4 shocks during training) compared to controls (subjected to 6 shocks during training).
The enhanced 3 hr memory in an aversive olfactory memory assay is observed in flies expressing mir-980sponge.V2.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry under the control of Scer\GAL4elav-C155 (using Scer\GAL80ts.αTub84B to limit the temporal expression) throughout both development and adulthood or adulthood only but not in flies expressing the transgene only during development.
Expression of mir-980sponge.V2.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry under the control of any of the following drivers: Scer\GAL4Orco.PK, Scer\GAL4GH146, Scer\GAL4ey-OK107, Scer\GAL4[GMR13F02] Scer\GAL4c316, Scer\GAL4ple.PF, Scer\GAL4Mz604 or Scer\GAL4NP2492 results in enhanced 3 hr memory in an aversive olfactory memory assay in adults compared to controls; expression under the control of either Scer\GAL4Gad1.3.098 or Scer\GAL4GMR31F10 does not lead to memory enhancement. Expression of mir-980sponge.V2.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry using any of the following: Scer\GAL4GH146, Scer\GAL4ey-OK107 or Scer\GAL4238Y however leads to increased odor and/or shock sensitivity. Only expression under the Scer\GAL4GMR13F02 or Scer\GAL4elav-C155 leads to 3 hr memory enhancement without significantly changing either shock or odor avoidance compared to controls.
Ectopic expression of mir-980sponge.V2.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry under the control of Scer\GAL4GH146 increases excitability (mean firing frequency) of the projection neurons in the adult optic lobe compared to controls.
Scer\GAL4elav-C155, mir-980sponge.V2.UAS.mCherry has abnormal memory | adult stage phenotype, suppressible by Rbfox1KK109100, Scer\GAL4elav-C155
The increased 3 hr memory in an aversive olfactory assay characteristic for adult expressing mir-980sponge.V2.Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mCherry under the control of Scer\GAL4elav-C155 is fully suppressed by co-expression of Rbfox1KK109100 RNAi. The memory index measured in flies expressing both transgenes is comparable to that observed in flies expressing Rbfox1KK109100 alone and below the control levels, indicating that mir-980 is epistatic to Rbfox1 in memory control.