Molecular determinants of brain size and cognitive performance

大脑大小和认知能力的分子决定因素

• 批准号: 418087817
• 负责人: Professorin Dr. Katja Nowick
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Institut für Biologie
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2018-12-31 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/418087817?language=en
• 关键词: Molecular; determinants; brain; size; cognitive

Higher organism rely on their cognitive abilities to compete for resources such as food, territories and mates: brain function is thus directly linked with fitness. There seems to be a link between brain size and cognitive performance at least in humans, since microcephaly usually goes along with cognitive disabilities. Development of the brain is sensitive to the environment, with stress during early life negatively affecting brain development, functions and cognition. Here we aim to decipher the transcriptome and co-expression network signatures that determine brain size. Persistent effects of the nuclear accident in Chernobyl (Ukraine) provide us with the opportunity to quantify the association between environmental stress (exposure to ionizing radiation) and reduced brain size in wild vertebrate populations. The mosaic of radionuclide contamination in the area surrounding the former nuclear power plant at Chernobyl permits repeated experimental sampling within an area of similar environmental conditions but with different levels of contamination. Using the rodents Apodemus flavicolis and Myodes glareolus, we will sequence the transcriptomes of the frontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and motor cortex from individuals inhabiting areas with contrasting levels of soil radionuclide contamination to determine differences in gene expression and co-expression networks (10 males and females from high, intermediate and low contamination regions; n = 480 transcriptomes in total). The very same individuals that will be used for the transcriptome study will perform standard behavioral tests, their basal metabolic rate will be measures and brain mass will be recorded, to link the transcriptome patterns to energetic costs, brain size and cognitive performance. Studying two species will allow us to determine the common molecular determinants underlying brain size and cognition. Further, considering the increasing risk of future nuclear disasters, we aim to provide important insides into health consequences of such disasters on organisms being relevant models for human biology.

高等生物依靠它们的认知能力来争夺食物、领地和配偶等资源：因此，大脑功能与健康直接相关。至少在人类中，大脑大小和认知能力之间似乎存在联系，因为小头症通常伴随着认知障碍。大脑的发育对环境很敏感，生命早期的压力会对大脑的发育、功能和认知产生负面影响。在这里，我们的目标是破译转录组和共同表达网络特征，决定大脑的大小。切尔诺贝利（乌克兰）核事故的持续影响为我们提供了量化环境压力（暴露于电离辐射）与野生脊椎动物种群脑体积缩小之间关系的机会。切尔诺贝利前核电站周围地区的放射性核素污染形成马赛克，使得在环境条件相似但污染程度不同的地区进行重复实验取样成为可能。研究人员将对居住在土壤放射性核素污染水平不同地区的啮齿动物黄足鼠（Apodemus flavicolis）和光斑足鼠（Myodes glareolus）的额叶皮层、海马、杏仁核和运动皮层的转录组进行测序，以确定基因表达和共表达网络的差异（来自高、中、低污染地区的10只雄性和雌性，共480个转录组）。将用于转录组研究的同一个人将进行标准的行为测试，他们的基础代谢率将被测量，脑质量将被记录，以将转录组模式与能量消耗、脑大小和认知表现联系起来。研究两个物种将使我们能够确定大脑大小和认知的共同分子决定因素。此外，考虑到未来核灾难的风险日益增加，我们的目标是提供重要的内部信息，了解此类灾难对作为人类生物学相关模型的生物体的健康后果。