Drosophila

Neural dysfunction associated with Drosophila neurodegeneration mutations or transgenes. Fruit fly research has identified mutations affecting many biochemical functions essential to neuronal maintenance with age, suggesting these may be directly compromised in disease states or may secondarily contribute significantly to disease pathogenesis in humans. These mutants will enable more detailed studies of neural degeneration and senescence. Key references that bear on each process are provided. SUMO, small ubiquitin-like modifier; UBQ, ubiquitin.