Neurodegeneration mutants, method for identifying same, and method for screening neuroprotective agents
A method for obtaining a Drosophila neurodegeneration mutant includes the steps of selecting at least one Drosophila mutant having an aberrant phenotype selected from the group consisting of temperature-sensitive paralysis and bang-sensitive paralysis; and screening the at least one selected Drosophila mutant for age-dependent neurodegeneration. Neurodegeneration mutants are obtained in the method and causal mutations are characterized. The neurodegeneration mutants can be used in screening methods to identify putative neuroprotective agents.
1. A method for evaluating a putative neuroprotective agent, the method comprising the steps of:
administering a putative neuroprotective agent to a Drosophila strain susceptible to age-dependent neurodegeneration, the strain being a behavioral mutant selected from the group consisting of a temperature-sensitive paralytic mutant and a bang-sensitive paralytic mutant; and
evaluating a neuroprotective effect of the agent.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a characteristic of the neuroprotective effect is selected from the group consisting of a reduction in severity of neurodegeneration, a delay in onset of neurodegeneration, an improved age-dependent behavior, and an increase in lifespan of the strain.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the neuroprotective effect is evaluated by a histological screen.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent is administered by a method selected from the group consisting of feeding the agent to the strain and injecting the agent into the strain.