VlaR gene structure, expression and social behavior

VlaR基因结构、表达与社会行为

• 批准号: 6660349
• 负责人: Elizabeth A.D. Hammock
• 金额: $ 3.95万
• 依托单位: EMORY UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-09-13 至 2006-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6660349
• 关键词: animal breeding; behavior test; behavioral /social science research tag; behavioral genetics; ethology; gene expression; genetic mapping; genetic polymorphism; genetic promoter element; hormone receptor; male; molecular genetics; predoctoral investigator; sex behavior; sex partner; social behavior; tissue /cell culture; vasopressins; vole

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal aims to characterize the effects of a variable genetic element in regulation of expression of the vole vasopressin 1a receptor (V1aR) gene. Vasopressin and the V1aR are involved in the regulation of species-specific social behaviors. Receptor distribution patterns are species-specific and correlate with social structure. Monogamous and non-monogamous voles differ in their behavioral response to vasopressin and expression pattern of V1aR in the brain. In addition, there is a tremendous amount of intra-specific variability in V1aR expression in monogamous prairie voles. A large, highly repetitive microsatellite region is found in the 5' flanking region of the VlaR gene of monogamous voles but not in non-monogamous vole species. Within prairie vole, the length of this microsatellite correlates with the level of VlaR binding in the brain. This research proposal will test the hypothesis that i) this polymorphic promoter sequence plays a role in the expression of the VlaR gene, and that ii) the individual variability in V1aR expression resulting from this variable promoter structure translates into individual variability in social behavior. Luciferase reporter assays in cell culture and a selective prairie vole breeding strategy with extensive behavioral characterization and subsequent molecular analysis will be used to test these hypotheses. This research will provide a possible molecular mechanism producing intra-specific variability in gene expression and behavior, which may be relevant to psychopathologies.

描述（由申请人提供）：该建议旨在表征可变遗传元件在调节Vole加压素1A受体（V1AR）基因表达的影响。加压素和V1AR参与了物种特异性社会行为的调节。受体分布模式是物种特异性的，与社会结构相关。一夫一妻制和非一体性田鼠对加压素的行为反应和大脑中V1AR的表达模式有所不同。另外，一夫一妻制的草原田鼠的V1AR表达中存在巨大的特异性变异性。在一夫一妻田鼠的vlar基因的5'侧面区域中发现了一个大型，高度重复的微卫星区域，但在非一体成型沃尔物种中却没有。在草原vole中，该微卫星的长度与大脑中的VLAR结合水平相关。该研究建议将检验以下假设：i）该多态性启动子序列在VLAR基因的表达中起作用，而II）II）该变量启动子结构引起的V1AR表达中的个体变异性转化为社会行为中的个体变异性。细胞培养中的荧光素酶报告基因测定和具有广泛行为表征和随后的分子分析的选择性草原vole育种策略将用于检验这些假设。这项研究将提供一种可能在基因表达和行为中产生特异性变异性的分子机制，这可能与精神病理学有关。