%0 Journal Article
%T Inhibition of <i>foxo</i> and <i>minibrain</i> in Dopaminergic Neurons Can Model Aspects of Parkinson Disease in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>
%A Mahin S. Chavoshi
%A Brian E. Staveley
%J Advances in Parkinson's Disease
%P 1-6
%@ 2169-9720
%D 2016
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/apd.2016.51001
%X Symptoms of Parkinson Disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disease, emerge
due to degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Recently, a genome wide study revealed a role for a <em>foxo</em> transcription factor in PD. In the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, we have attempted
1) to inhibit the sole Drosophila homologue of <em>foxo</em> through the directed expression of a
stable inducible RNAi transgene and 2) to indirectly increase <em>foxo</em> transcription activity through
the inhibition of the kinase <em>minibrain</em> (<em>mnb</em>), a <em>foxo</em> transcriptional inhibitor. To evaluate the lifetime
consequences upon the flies, longevity assays and locomotion over time assays were conducted.
The inhibition of <em>foxo</em> by <em>foxo-RNAi</em> decreases life span significantly when expressed under
the control of <em>Tyrosine Hydroxylase-Gal</em>4 (<em>TH-Gal</em>4). The targeted expression of mnb-RNAi, in the
dopaminergic neurons, with an expected loss of suppression of <em>foxo</em> transcriptional activity, results
in a significant loss of climbing ability. Thus alteration of <em>foxo</em> activity, both by RNA-inhibition
and by down-regulation of an inhibitor of <em>foxo</em>, <em>minibrain</em>, produces novel Drosophila models of
Parkinson Disease.
%K &lt
%K i&gt
%K Drosophila melanogaster&lt
%K /i&gt
%K Model of Parkinson Disease
%K &lt
%K i&gt
%K foxo&lt
%K /i&gt
%K &lt
%K i&gt
%K minibrain&lt
%K /i&gt
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=63322