Long-Term Memory Formation in Drosophila Depends on the 3'UTR of CPEB Gene orb2 .

Activation of local translation in neurites in response to stimulation is an important step in the formation of long-term memory (LTM). CPEB proteins are a family of translation factors involved in LTM formation. The CPEB protein Orb2 plays an important role in the development and function of the nervous system. Mutations of the coding region of the gene have previously been shown to impair LTM formation. We found that a deletion of the 3'UTR of the gene similarly results in loss of LTM in As a result of the deletion, the content of the Orb2 protein remained the same in the neuron soma, but significantly decreased in synapses. Using RNA immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing, we detected more than 6000 potential Orb2 mRNA targets expressed in the brain. Importantly, deletion of the 3'UTR of mRNA also affected the localization of the Csp, Pyd, and Eya proteins, which are encoded by putative mRNA targets of Orb2. Therefore, the 3'UTR of the mRNA is important for the proper localization of Orb2 and other proteins in synapses of neurons and the brain as a whole, providing a molecular basis for LTM formation.