The team led by Dr Attila Stetak, Professor Andreas Papassotiropoulos and Professor Dominique de Quervain used sensory stimuli to examine the learning and memory ability of genetically modified roundworms lacking a certain gene, mps-2.
‘Protein molecules MPS-2 and NHR-66 make for interesting targets for drugs that could mitigate age-related memory loss.’
Mps-2 gene is suspected of playing a role in memory functions.
The study results revealed that modified worms had equally good short-term memory as unmodified specimens. Genetically modified worms (without mps-2 gene) had a reduced long-term memory.
In roundworms, as in humans, memory loss can be observed with increasing age. However, the molecular basis behind the loss of memory is unclear.
In further studies, the researchers proved that unmodified worms with the mps-2 gene exhibited a strong reduction of the MPS-2 protein in old age. A strong reduction of the MPS-2 protein is linked to reduced memory performance.
The research team also identified another protein, NHR-66, as responsible for regulating this deficiency.
If in older worms MPS-2 protein level was artificially induced or their NHR-66 was turned off, they had a similarly good memory as younger worms.
In further studies, the researchers want to examine therapeutic options based on their discovery.
Source: Medindia
