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The what and where of operant self-learning: PKC53e necessity in motorneurons?

During operant learning, animals learn to associate external cues (world-learning) and/or their self-generated motor program (self-learning) with the reward or punishment. Previous work dissociated these two types of learning using different paradigms in the fly torque meter apparatus (“flight simulator”),. These results showed that each learning mechanism is mediated by a different molecular pathway: while rutabaga is necessary for world-learning, an inhibition of PKC prevents self-learning. Analogous results have been reported from Aplysia and mammals.

We used the TARGET system coupled to different Gal4 lines in order to localize the PKC requirement. Our results suggest that the inhibition of PKC in motorneurons is sufficient to prevent self-learning. In an additional approach aiming to identify which of the six PKCs is involved, we use a pan-neuronal and time-restricted induction of various RNAi constructs individually targeting the different PKC isoforms. Ongoing experiments suggest that the calcium-dependent, classical PKC53e may be the PKC involved in self-learning.

If these results are confirmed, they will be strongly suggesting that PKC53e is necessary to induce plasticity in motorneurons, allowing self-learning to take place.