RUI: Collaborative Research: Molecular mechanisms of dendrite development, maintenance and plasticity: in vivo single-neuron analysis in C. elegans

大脑发育涉及神经细胞之间连接的复杂网络的形成和微调。这些连接发生在神经细胞接触的特殊部位，通常形成在从神经细胞突出的棘状结构(称为棘突)上。精确控制的脊椎结构变化对正常的学习和记忆非常重要。一些神经发育障碍是脊椎生长不当或未能正确维护脊椎的结果。这些功能障碍会导致神经细胞通讯的异常，从而降低学习和记忆能力。本项目的初步工作表明，线虫线虫的一些神经细胞之间的连接具有类似于人脑的棘状结构。这个项目将研究脊椎在正常发育过程中形成并在一生中保持的机制。这项研究使用线虫，因为在这个物种中开发了强大的遗传工具来识别和理解控制基本细胞功能的分子途径。通过将这些工具应用于脊柱生长和维护的潜在机制，我们希望获得对健康大脑功能要求的关键的新见解。对神经发育障碍的重要见解也可能被提供。该研究项目还将通过为本科生和研究生以及当地高中教师提供指导研究经验来支持未来科学家的培训。这些活动的招募将强调来自科学中代表性不足的群体的参与者。哺乳动物大脑中的大多数兴奋性突触发生在树突上，树突是一种含有丰富肌动蛋白的小膜突起，内有神经递质受体和其他信号机制。棘突是突触连接和可塑性的基本结构，是重要的学习和记忆过程的基础。尽管最近在确定调节脊柱形态变化的分子机制方面取得了进展，但许多关于脊柱形成、维持和可塑性的基本生物学问题仍未得到解答。细胞外基质(ECM)在调节脊柱发育和维持中的作用尤其鲜为人知。本研究将利用线虫秀丽线虫中可用的遗传工具来识别和表征与突触发育和可塑性有关的分子途径。初步研究表明，与线虫GABA能神经元的兴奋性突触接触发生在棘状突起。这个合作项目融合了Lemons、Francis和B‘Nard实验室的专业知识，将研究ECM介导的引导树突发育和动力学的机制，以及应用无偏见的正向基因筛查来发现调节活体树突棘的新的细胞和分子途径。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Brain development involves the formation and fine-tuning of complex networks of connections between nerve cells. These connections occur at specialized sites of nerve cell contact, often formed on thorn-like structures (called spines) that protrude from the nerve cells. Precisely-controlled structural changes in spines are important for proper learning and memory. Some neuro-developmental disorders are the result of improper spine outgrowth, or a failure to properly maintain spines. These dysfunctions result in abnormalities in nerve cell communication that decrease learning and memory performance. Preliminary work for the present project has shown that connections between some nerve cells in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans have spine-like structures, similar to those in the human brain. This project will investigate the mechanisms by which spines are formed during normal development, and maintained throughout life. The research uses C. elegans worms because of the powerful genetic tools developed in this species for identifying and understanding molecular pathways that control basic cell functions. By applying these tools to the mechanisms underlying spine outgrowth and maintenance, we expect to gain critical novel insights into the requirements for healthy brain function. Important insights into neurodevelopmental disorders may also be provided. This research project will also support the training of future scientists by providing mentored research experiences for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as local high school teachers. Recruitment for these activities will emphasize participants from under-represented groups in science.Most excitatory synapses in the mammalian brain occur at dendritic spines, which are small actin-rich membrane protrusions that house neurotransmitter receptors and other signaling machinery. Spines are essential structures in synaptic connectivity and plasticity, and underlie important processes of learning and memory. Despite recent progress in defining molecular mechanisms that regulate spine morphological changes, many questions about the basic biology of spine formation, maintenance and plasticity remain unanswered. The role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in regulating spine development and maintenance is particularly poorly understood. The present studies will employ genetic tools available in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans to identify and characterize molecular pathways involved in synapse development and plasticity. Preliminary work revealed that excitatory synaptic contacts onto C. elegans GABAergic neurons occur at spine-like protrusions. This collaborative project, incorporating expertise from the Lemons, Francis and B'nard labs, will investigate ECM-mediated mechanisms for guiding dendrite development and dynamics, as well as applying unbiased forward genetic screening to uncover novel cellular and molecular pathways that regulate dendritic spines in vivo.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.