Dynamic expression pattern of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II gene in the central nervous system of Drosophila throughout development

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM KII) is thought to be i nvolved in the majority of the neuronal functions mediated by intracellular free Ca2+, and has been implicated in long-term potentiation, learning, an d memory. In this work, we have examined in detail the RNA expression patte rn for the Drosophila CaM KII gene by in situ hybridization, during embryon ic, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Our results indicate that expression o f CaM KII was homogeneous in early embryos, but that during development the gene transcription rapidly became restricted to neuroblasts and their prog eny in the nervous system. This predominant expression in the nervous syste m is maintained during late embryogenesis and post-embryonic development. A signal compartmentalization appeared in the larval central nervous system, where the CaM KII expression became progressively concentrated in the ante rior ganglia. In the adult brain, a specific expression was more abundant i n a subset of neurons around the central brain, particularly the mushroom b odies and the central complex, structures that play an important role in le arning and memory. (C) 1999 Academic Press.