Dorsal–lateral clock neurons modulate consolidation and maintenance of long‐term memory in Drosophila

A newly formed memory is initially unstable. However, if it is consolidated into the brain, the consolidated memory is stored as stable long‐term memory (LTM). Despite the recent progress, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of LTM have not yet been fully elucidated. The fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, for which various genetic tools are available, has been used to clarify the molecular mechanisms of LTM. Using the Drosophila courtship‐conditioning assay as a memory paradigm, we previously identified that the circadian clock gene period (per) plays a vital role in consolidating LTM, suggesting that per‐expressing clock neurons are critically involved in LTM. However, it is still incompletely understood which clock neurons are essential for LTM. Here, we show that dorsal–lateral clock neurons (LNds) play a crucial role in LTM. Using an LNd‐specific split‐GAL4 line, we confirmed that disruption of synaptic transmission in LNds impaired LTM maintenance. On the other hand, induction of per RNAi or the dominant‐negative transgene of Per in LNds impaired LTM consolidation. Our results reveal that transmitter release and Per function in LNds are involved in courtship memory processing. We previously reported that the circadian clock gene period (per) is essential for consolidating courtship LTM [PNAS 101 (45) 16058–63], suggesting that per‐expressing clock neurons are critically involved in courtship LTM. It is still incompletely understood which clock neurons are essential for LTM. In this study, we found that dorsal‐lateral clock neurons (LNds) play a crucial role in courtship LTM.