Neurogenetic Analysis of Neuropeptide Receptor Function in Drosophila

神经肽是控制动物发育、生理和行为的小信号分子。本研究利用果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）的遗传方法来了解神经肽如何调节蜕皮，昆虫在每次蜕皮结束时蜕去旧外骨骼（角质层）的行为是由一系列相互作用的神经肽控制的。行为的固有性质，加上其复杂的调控，使其成为理解神经肽如何引起行为和生理上协调一致和发育适当的变化的首要系统。我们之前的工作已经确定神经肽甲壳类心脏活性肽（CCAP）在调节果蝇的新陈代谢中起重要作用，与蛾的研究结果一致。它还揭示了CCAP的作用比预期的更复杂。本研究将利用果蝇现有的遗传工具，通过测定CCAP受体（CCAP- r）的表达，并分析不同表达CCAP- r的细胞在控制代谢中的作用，来了解CCAP作用的基础。这项工作将进一步加深我们对神经肽如何控制动物行为和发育的理解。它还将特别促进对蜕皮行为控制的理解，这是所有昆虫生存所必需的行为。因此，从这项研究中获得的信息可能导致开发有用的昆虫防治剂。这里提出的研究提供了一个独特的机会来接受果蝇生物学的不同寻常的广泛训练，包括神经内分泌学，遗传学和行为学。此外，本研究的结果将用于PI所开设的讲座和实践课程。

Neuropeptides are small signaling molecules that control the development, physiology, and behavior of animals. This proposal uses genetic approaches in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to understand how neuropeptides regulate ecdysis, the behavior used by insects to shed their old exoskeleton (cuticle) at the end of each molt Ecdysis is controlled by a series of interacting neuropeptides. The stereotyped nature of the behavior, coupled with its complex regulation, has made it a premier system for understanding how neuropeptides cause concerted and developmentally appropriate changes in behavior and physiology. Our previous work has established that the neuropeptide Crustacean Cardioactive Peptide (CCAP) plays an important role in regulating Drosophila ecdysis, consistent with findings from the moth. It also revealed that the actions of CCAP are more complex than predicted. This proposal will uses the genetic tools available in Drosophila to understand the bases for CCAP's actions by determining the expression of the CCAP receptor (CCAP-R), and analyzing the role of the different CCAP-R-expressing cells in the control of ecdysis. This work will further our understanding of how neuropeptides control animal behavior and development. It will also specifically advance the understanding of the control of ecdysis behavior, a behavior that is essential for the survival of all insects. Thus, information gained from this research may lead to the development of useful agents of insect control. The research proposed here offers a unique opportunity to receive an unusually broad training in Drosophila biology, including neuroendocrinology, genetics, and behavior. In addition, the results of this research will be used in lecture and practical courses offered by the PI.