The Effect of Apoaequorin on Learning and Memory in Drosophila melanogaster
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Authors
Gale, Josie
Conway, Jack
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Homeopathic supplements have greatly increased in prevalence since their origin in the late 18th century; however, they have also faced great scrutiny due to the lack of FDA approval regarding their effectiveness and safety. This lack of FDA approval leads many to question whether such supplements are safe to ingest and worth the investment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Prevagen supplement on memory and learning in D. melanogaster. Prevagen is made primarily of Apoaequorin, an Aquorea victoria-extracted protein that is thought to help improve memory. It was hypothesized that addition of Prevagen to the diet of D. melanogaster would result in increased learning and memory along with increased expression of the RyR and Cadps genes. To test this hypothesis, three behavioral assays were employed to measure short-term memory, long-term memory, and anesthesia-resistant memory. Furthermore, expression of the RyR and Cadps genes was analyzed using RT-qPCR to determine the genetic effect of Prevagen on calcium regulation. The RyR gene encodes the Ryanodine Receptor, which releases calcium stores from the endoplasmic reticulum into the cytoplasm, and Cadps, which encodes Calcium-dependent Secretion Activators that are involved in the exocytosis of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles. The results of this study showed that expression of the Cadps gene was significantly increased in the Prevagen-treated flies when compared to control flies, whereas RyR expression remained unchanged. Furthermore, Prevagen treatment did not impact short-term and anesthesia-resistant memory; however, a significant increase in long-term memory was observed.