Collaborative Research: RUI: Molecular mechanisms and physiological triggers underlying neuromodulator plasticity in a lobster pattern generator

合作研究：RUI：龙虾模式发生器中神经调节剂可塑性的分子机制和生理触发因素

基本信息

批准号：
1354567
负责人：
Patsy Dickinson
金额：
$ 43万
依托单位：
Bowdoin College
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2014
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2014-08-15 至 2018-07-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1354567&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Collaborative Research RUI Molecular mechanisms

项目摘要

The overarching goal of this project is to understand the processes that underlie variability in behavior. Specifically, the project will focus on variability in the responses of neuronal networks generating the activity that controls rhythmic movements to one hormone. This project will utilize the lobster cardiac neuromuscular system, a simple model for understanding this phenomenon. In this system, some hearts respond to the hormone allatostatin-C with increased contraction force, while others respond by decreasing contraction force. The project is multi-disciplinary, using physiological, molecular and biochemical approaches. Experiments will include recording changes in activity of the lobster heart when exposed to the hormone, using molecular biological techniques to determine the genes that contribute to the differential responses to the hormone in different animals, and analyzing proteins within the heart to determine how they differ among animals that respond differently to the hormone. This project is a collaboration between researchers at Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine) and the University of Hawaii at Manoa (Honolulu). It will train undergraduates, including underrepresented minority students, at both institutions in a wide variety of chemical, molecular and physiological techniques. It will provide interdisciplinary training and will introduce undergraduates to the importance of examining scientific questions from multiple perspectives. The molecular components of the project will also provide resources that can be used by other scientists to address additional issues in lobster biology, including the origin and physiological consequences of shell disease.To determine the mechanisms and triggers that underlie the variability in the responses of neuronal networks to modulators, this project will examine a simple pattern generator, the lobster cardiac ganglion. This project will combine transcriptomics and physiology to look for differences in gene expression that correlate with differential responses to the peptide hormone, allatostatin-C. At the same time, the project will ask whether these differences may be triggered by changes related to the molt cycle. The project, which will use Illumina sequencing, will assemble de novo transcriptomes from lobster tissues. These transcriptomes will provide references onto which RNA-Seq data from lobsters that respond differentially to allatostatin-C in physiological experiments will be mapped to determine changes in gene expression. The investigation will target specific genes and will use a genome-wide assessment to look for additional changes. The project will also use mass spectrometry to ask whether specific proteins show different post-translational modifications in lobster hearts that respond differentially to the neuropeptide.

该项目的总体目标是了解行为可变性构成的过程。具体而言，该项目将重点关注神经元网络响应的变异性，该神经元网络生成了控制节奏运动到一种激素的活动。该项目将利用龙虾心脏神经肌肉系统，这是一种理解这种现象的简单模型。在该系统中，一些心脏对allatostatin-c的激素反应，而收缩力增加，而另一些人则通过减少收缩力做出反应。该项目是使用生理，分子和生化方法的多学科。实验将包括记录龙虾心脏在暴露于激素时的活性变化，使用分子生物学技术来确定有助于不同动物中对激素的差异反应的基因，并分析心脏内部蛋白质的蛋白质，以确定它们在动物中对激素的不同差异。该项目是鲍登学院（缅因州不伦瑞克）的研究人员与夏威夷大学（檀香山）的研究人员之间的合作。它将以各种化学，分子和生理技术的各种机构在包括代表性不足的少数族裔学生中培训本科生。它将提供跨学科的培训，并将在多个角度介绍研究科学问题的重要性。该项目的分子组成部分还将提供其他科学家可以使用的资源来解决龙虾生物学的其他问题，包括壳病的起源和生理后果。为了确定神经元网络对调节器的响应的机制和触发因素，该项目将检查简单的模式生成器，将检查一个简单的模式生成器。该项目将结合转录组学和生理学，以寻找与对肽激素Allatostatin-C的差异反应相关的基因表达差异。同时，该项目将询问这些差异是否可能是由与蜕皮周期相关的更改触发的。该项目将使用Illumina测序，将从龙虾组织组装从头转录组。这些转录组将提供参考，这些参考将在生理实验中绘制龙虾中对allatostatin-c的反应差异，以确定基因表达的变化。该研究将针对特定的基因，并将使用全基因组评估来寻找其他变化。该项目还将使用质谱法来询问特定蛋白是否在龙虾心脏中是否显示出对神经肽的反应不同的翻译后修饰。