The Role of M-Ras in Social Recognition

M-Ras 在社会认可中的作用

• 批准号: 436257-2013
• 负责人: Schrader, John
• 金额: $ 2.11万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=596901
• 关键词: Role; Ras; Social; Recognition

I study various aspects of communication between and inside of cells. Over 15 years ago, we discovered a new member of the Ras family of proteins, called M-Ras, which is present in both mammals and simpler organisms like worms. The Ras family members link signals from the outside of the cell to the resulting changes that happen inside the cell. We created mice and worms without M-Ras to investigate its function. While studying mice that lack M-Ras, we observed higher levels of aggression, altered social interactions, increased mating behavior with certain individuals and poor parenting skills. These behaviours involve a learning process that is known to require the generation of new neurons from stem cells and exposure to new odours or pheromones. M-Ras is abundant in the brain of mammals and particularly in areas where new neurons are made. M-Ras is abundant in worms in the sensory organs and reproductive organs of worms, suggesting that there are changes in odour and mating behavior in worms lacking M-Ras. We want to understand the molecular mechanisms by which M-Ras regulates the cells involved in odour learning and also determine if pheromone secretion may be altered. We will, in parallel, study the behaviour of different genetically modified mice and worms in collaboration with Dr. Cathy Rankin, an expert in worm behavior. We believe that M-Ras is the first signaling molecule that could connect the immediate detection of pheromones to the process of neuron production and odour learning. This new fundamental knowledge about memory of individual recognition, aggression and reproductive behaviour may have implications for animal reproduction in agriculture and in the conservation of endangered species.

我研究细胞之间和细胞内部通讯的各个方面。 15 多年前，我们发现了 Ras 蛋白家族的一个新成员，称为 M-Ras，它存在于哺乳动物和蠕虫等简单生物体中。 Ras 家族成员将细胞外部的信号与细胞内部发生的变化联系起来。我们创造了没有 M-Ras 的小鼠和蠕虫来研究其功能。在研究缺乏 M-Ras 的小鼠时，我们观察到攻击性更高、社交互动改变、与某些个体的交配行为增加以及养育技能较差。这些行为涉及一个学习过程，已知该过程需要干细胞产生新的神经元并暴露于新的气味或信息素。 M-Ras 在哺乳动物的大脑中含量丰富，特别是在产生新神经元的区域。 M-Ras在蠕虫的感觉器官和生殖器官中含量丰富，这表明缺乏M-Ras的蠕虫的气味和交配行为会发生变化。我们想要了解 M-Ras 调节参与气味学习的细胞的分子机制，并确定信息素分泌是否可能被改变。与此同时，我们将与蠕虫行为专家 Cathy Rankin 博士合作，研究不同转基因小鼠和蠕虫的行为。我们相信 M-Ras 是第一个能够将信息素的即时检测与神经元产生和气味学习过程联系起来的信号分子。这种关于个体识别、攻击和繁殖行为记忆的新基础知识可能会对农业中的动物繁殖和濒危物种的保护产生影响。