CAREER: Mechanisms of feeding behavior regulation

职业：摄食行为调节机制

• 批准号: 1149667
• 负责人: Anupama Dahanukar
• 金额: $ 117.93万
• 依托单位: University of California-Riverside
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-01 至 2018-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1149667&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Mechanisms; feeding; behavior; regulation

Animals regulate the quality and quantity of their food intake to maintain nutrient homeostasis. Although studies on regulation of feeding behavior have focused on central feedback mechanisms that control appetite, some evidence suggests that peripheral sensory activity is modulated under certain conditions. That such modulation can be specific - carbohydrate deprivation causes increased sensitivity to sugars and protein deprivation causes increased sensitivity to amino acids - argues for the existence of mechanisms that target the activity of receptors or cells that recognize specific categories of taste chemicals. In insects, the levels of macronutrients in the hemolymph are known to sway the responsiveness of taste neurons, however the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs are poorly understood. This project investigates the hypothesis that members of a large, divergent family of Gustatory receptor (Gr) genes are regulatory targets of pathways that operate to sense internal nutritional needs. In addition, genome-wide approaches will be applied to identify novel genes that are differentially regulated by changes in nutrient demand. These studies will determine the importance of Gr regulation under different physiological conditions and establish a foundation for inquiry into the molecular underpinnings of compensatory food selection and intake.The proposed studies will generate broader impact through an educational plan that provides hands-on research experience to several early-career undergraduate students from under-represented groups through a summer research program. The project will also provide training for a graduate student and a postdoctoral scientist. Each year two undergraduate students will be selected to participate in a follow-up research training program during which time they will engage in genetic screens to identify loci involved in regulating feeding behaviors. All participants will engage in near-peer mentoring and annual assessment will be used to develop effective ways with which to integrate research training with science education and career guidance. The data generated from this project will be made available through scientific publications and deposition in public databases.

动物调节其食物摄入的质量和数量以维持营养平衡。虽然对摄食行为调节的研究主要集中在控制食欲的中枢反馈机制上，但一些证据表明，外周感觉活动在某些条件下受到调节。这种调节可能是特异性的--碳水化合物缺乏会导致对糖的敏感性增加，蛋白质缺乏会导致对氨基酸的敏感性增加--这就证明了存在一种机制，这种机制针对的是识别特定类别味觉化学物质的受体或细胞的活性。在昆虫中，已知血淋巴中大量营养素的水平会影响味觉神经元的反应性，但人们对这种情况发生的分子机制知之甚少。该项目研究了一个大的，不同的味觉受体（Gr）基因家族的成员是感知内部营养需求的途径的调节目标的假设。此外，全基因组的方法将被应用于确定新的基因，差异调节营养需求的变化。这些研究将确定在不同生理条件下Gr调节的重要性，并为探究补偿性食物选择和摄入的分子基础奠定基础。拟议的研究将通过一项教育计划产生更广泛的影响，该计划通过暑期研究计划为来自代表性不足群体的几名早期职业本科生提供实践研究经验。该项目还将为一名研究生和一名博士后科学家提供培训。每年将选出两名本科生参加后续研究培训计划，在此期间，他们将进行遗传筛查，以确定参与调节喂养行为的基因座。所有参与者都将参与同侪指导，年度评估将用于制定有效的方法，将研究培训与科学教育和职业指导相结合。该项目产生的数据将通过科学出版物和存入公共数据库提供。