International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review Investigating Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy Using Drosophila melanogaster Akari Takai 1 , Masamitsu Yamaguchi 2,3, Hideki Yoshida 2 and Tomohiro Chiyonobu 1,* 1 Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan;
[email protected] 2 Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 603-8585, Japan;
[email protected] (M.Y.);
[email protected] (H.Y.) 3 Kansai Gakken Laboratory, Kankyo Eisei Yakuhin Co. Ltd., Kyoto 619-0237, Japan * Correspondence:
[email protected] Received: 15 August 2020; Accepted: 1 September 2020; Published: 3 September 2020 Abstract: Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are the spectrum of severe epilepsies characterized by early-onset, refractory seizures occurring in the context of developmental regression or plateauing. Early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE) is one of the earliest forms of DEE, manifesting as frequent epileptic spasms and characteristic electroencephalogram findings in early infancy. In recent years, next-generation sequencing approaches have identified a number of monogenic determinants underlying DEE. In the case of EIEE, 85 genes have been registered in Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man as causative genes. Model organisms are indispensable tools for understanding the in vivo roles of the newly identified causative genes. In this review, we first present an overview of epilepsy and its genetic etiology, especially focusing on EIEE and then briefly summarize epilepsy research using animal and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models. The Drosophila model, which is characterized by easy gene manipulation, a short generation time, low cost and fewer ethical restrictions when designing experiments, is optimal for understanding the genetics of DEE.