Genetic and circuit bases of mechanically-induced predator avoidance in Platynereis dumerilii larvae

扁沙蚕幼虫机械诱导捕食者回避的遗传和电路基础

• 批准号: 320832098
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Gáspár Jékely
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Centre for Organismal Studies (COS)
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2015-12-31 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/320832098?language=en
• 关键词: Genetic; circuit; bases; mechanically; induced

Escape from predators has been a major driving force in the evolution of complex nervous systems. Predator avoidance requires complex neuronal circuits to achieve the coordinated control of the whole body. We have limited knowledge of complete neuronal circuits involved in predator avoidance and how these achieve control over an entire organism. We propose to use the powerful genetic and neuroscience model, the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii, to study the function of mechanosensory circuits mediating predator avoidance. We will study how Platynereis larvae avoid predation by two cnidarian predators, the jellyfish Clytia and Aurelia. We will use an integrative approach combining behaviour, whole-body neuronal connectomics, gene knockouts, calcium imaging, and thermogenetics. Platynereis larvae are small and ideally suited for whole-body imaging and connectomics by serial sectioning electron microscopy. The larvae have stereotypical neuronal circuitry and individual neurons can be identified and manipulated in a targeted manner using genetic tools. The use of experimental organisms with laboratory breeding cultures will enable us to study the circuit bases of an ecologically relevant behaviour in unprecedented detail. Placing whole-body neuronal connectomes and circuit dynamics into the context of interspecific interactions promises a fuller understanding of the neuroethology of marine zooplankton and animal behaviour in general.

在复杂神经系统的进化过程中，逃离捕食者一直是一个主要的驱动力。捕食者的躲避需要复杂的神经回路来实现对整个身体的协调控制。我们对涉及捕食者躲避的完整神经回路以及它们如何控制整个生物体的知识有限。我们建议使用强大的遗传和神经科学模型，海洋环节动物Platynereis dumerilii，来研究机械感觉回路介导捕食者回避的功能。我们将研究Platynereis的幼虫如何避免两种刺胞动物捕食者水母（Clytia和Aurelia）的捕食。我们将使用综合方法结合行为，全身神经元连接组学，基因敲除，钙成像和热遗传学。Platynereis的幼虫很小，非常适合通过连续切片电子显微镜进行全身成像和连接组学。幼虫具有典型的神经回路，可以使用遗传工具以有针对性的方式识别和操纵单个神经元。使用实验室繁殖培养的实验生物将使我们能够以前所未有的细节研究生态相关行为的电路基础。将全身神经元连接体和电路动力学置于种间相互作用的背景下，可以更全面地了解海洋浮游动物和动物行为的神经行为学。