Amnesiac gene

The amnesiac (amn) gene in "Drosophila" is a mutant suppressor of the "dunce gene". The gene produces a neuropeptide.
Biological role.
By suppressing "dunce" through mutagenesis, the "amnesiac" gene plays a role in reproduction of "Drosophila" because "dunce" is the sterility gene. This molecule has similar peptides to pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). The biological role of "amnesiac" gene is activating the adenyl cyclase second messenger pathway (cAMP) involved in its memory retrieval through these two peptides. The sensory and motor capabilities of "amnesiac" are normal, but it is memory retrieval that is affected, not storage. The "amnesiac" gene is directly involved in development of memory retrieval in the brain along with alcohol sensitivity patterning.
Clinical relevance.
Defects associated with "amnesiac" gene include: increased sensitivity to alcohol, normal initial memory, and failure for adult memory formation. Defects associated with "amnesiac" are due to the behavior of "amn" as a sex-linked recessive on the X chromosome. An abnormality on one allele of the genetic mutant, "amnesiac", that increases sensitivity to alcohol is called "cheapdate". Scientists have not generated a knockout model yet for the "amnesiac" gene due to the mutant effects created on multiple genes along with the need for further research studies about the "amnesiac" gene.