DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Estrogen Receptor Regulation of the Social Transcriptome

在许多物种中，雄性为了获得雌性和资源而展开激烈的竞争。与攻击性相关的行为模式受到内部和外部因素的调节，动物必须整合这些因素才能对情况做出适当的行为反应。类固醇激素是整合外部环境线索和内部机制(如大脑基因表达)的极佳候选者。这项研究将使用非洲罗非鱼，来研究性类固醇激素雌激素影响社会行为的分子过程。这一物种的雄性有两种截然不同的社会表型，这两种表型是可逆的，取决于社会背景。这种可塑性将被用来通过研究支配和从属雄性的攻击性的神经、激素和分子基础来洞察雄性竞争的生物学机制。具体地说，在雌激素途径受到药物干扰后，将测量主导和从属男性的大脑基因表达变化，从而深入了解哪些基因受到雌激素的影响。最终，这项研究将提供对男性与男性竞争及其进化结果背后的分子和荷尔蒙过程的洞察。该项目将为高中生、本科生和一名研究生提供极好的教育机会。PI是一个研究实习项目的组织者，该项目针对的是奥斯汀一所以少数民族为主的城市高中的学生。这两名调查人员经常参加德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校和当地社区的科学外展项目。两位研究人员都致力于通过建立期刊俱乐部和为改善本科科学实验室的教育小组做出贡献，来加强研究和教育的基础设施。

In many species, males compete aggressively for access to females and resources. Behavior patterns associated with aggression are regulated by both internal and external factors that the animal must integrate in order to make the appropriate behavioral response to a situation. Steroid hormones are excellent candidates for integrating external environmental cues and internal mechanisms such as brain gene expression. This research will use the African cichlid fish, Astatotilapia burtoni, to investigate the molecular processes by which the sex steroid hormone estrogen influences social behavior. Males of this species have two distinct social phenotypes that are reversible depending on social context. This plasticity will be utilized in order to gain insights into the biological mechanisms of male-male competition by investigating the neural, hormonal, and molecular underpinnings of aggression in dominant and subordinate males. Specifically, the brain gene expression changes in dominant and subordinate males will be measured after the estrogen pathway is pharmacologically disturbed, giving insight into which genes are under estrogenic influence. Ultimately, this research will provide insights into the molecular and hormonal processes that underlie male-male competition and its evolutionary consequences.This project will provide excellent educational opportunities to high school students, undergraduates, and one graduate student. The PI is the organizer of a research internship program for student from an urban, largely minority high school in Austin. Both investigators frequently participate in science outreach programs both on the UT Austin campus and in the local community. Both investigators strive to enhance the infrastructure for research and education by establishing journal clubs and contributing to education panels for improvement of undergraduate science labs.