Molecular Genetics of the Olfactory System

基因研究可以揭示行为背后的生物机制。特别的成功来自于使用果蝇作为一个具有充分研究基因组的模型系统。已经分离出几种影响嗅觉系统的突变菌株。最近的一项研究发现了一种名为“dare”的突变体，因为这些苍蝇“在躲避驱蚊剂方面存在缺陷”。现在已经知道，在将胆固醇转化为某些类固醇激素的关键步骤中，这种突变基因存在于一种酶中。该项目使用分子遗传学技术来研究嗅觉行为缺陷是如何由发育缺陷引起的，因为昆虫的变态依赖于一类被称为表皮甾体的化合物，或者是否有更直接的表皮甾体激素对嗅觉功能的影响。对该基因本身的操作，以及对dare基因时空表达的研究将揭示该基因参与激素生物合成如何影响成人嗅觉功能。研究结果的重要性将超越嗅觉感觉科学，包括对发育过程中基因相互作用的发育和神经内分泌学理解，以及激素在神经系统功能和行为中的作用。

Genetic studies can reveal biological mechanisms that underlie behavior. Particular success has come from using the fruitfly, Drosophila, as a model system with a well-studied genome. Several mutant strains have been isolated that affect the olfactory system. A recent discovery has been of the mutant called 'dare', because these flies are 'defective in avoidance of repellents.' It is now known that the mutant gene is in an enzyme involved in a crucial step in converting cholesterol to certain steroid hormones. This project uses molecular genetic techniques to examine how the olfactory behavioral deficits might result from defective developmental changes, since insect metamorphosis depends on a class of compounds called ecdysteroids, or whether there is a more direct effect of ecdysteroid hormones on olfactory function. Manipulation of the gene itself, and study of spatial and temporal expression of the dare gene will show how the involvement of this gene in hormone biosynthesis may affect adult olfactory function. Results will be important beyond olfactory sensory science, to include developmental and neuroendocrinological understanding of the interplay of genes during development, and the role of hormones in nervous system function and behavior.