Molecular Biological Studies for the Evolution of the Nervous System as an Informational Processing System

1.Long-term memory and gene expressionWe have examined gene expression of cerebellar Purkinje cells under the condition that they received the conjunctive stimuli of parallel fibers and climbing·fibers.We found that immediate early genes，particularly jun-B，were induced when pharmacologically mimicked conjunctive stimuli were applied into Purkinje cells in slices and in vivo animals.2。Gene expression under audio-visual discrimination tasksSakata and Kitsukawa in collaboration with Dr.Yoshio Sakurai(Kyoto University，the faculty of Literature)examined the gene expression of c-fos when rats were proceeding to an audio-visual descimination task and found the expression was enhanced in the auditory cortex when rats were working for audio tasks.3。An novel type RNA：rat Brain Specific Repetitive(Bsr)RNAKomine found a novel type of RNA，rat brain specific repetitive(Bsr)RNA。This RNA is unique in that it is repetitive RNA specifically expressed in the rat brain and only exists in…More the rattus.4。Finding dichromatic monkeysColor deficiency，mostly linked to X-chromosome，is found about several percent in human population.However，no color-defective monkeys were reported in old world monkeys whose genes including color pigment genes are very similar to humans。By analyzing DNA samples of 3 153 macaques，Onishi and Koike found three dichromatic monkeys.The frequency of dichromats in monkeys is significantly lower than that of humans.5。Genes specifically expressed in specific areas of the monkey neocortexThe neocortex is particularly evolved in the mammal and plays the major role in higher functions of the brain。It can be separated into distinct functional areas。By now，it has not been well understood how these areas are genetically programmed or determined by environmental inputs.We are trying to approach these questions by identifying the genes that are specifically expressed in the specific areas of neocortex.Tochitani found a gene named OCC-1 specifically expressed in the occipital cortex and Watakabe found the expression of GDF 7 is higher in the mortor cortex than other are as.Less：Less

1. Long-term memory and gene expressionWe have examined gene expression of cerebellar Purkinje cells under the condition that they received the conjunctive stimuli of parallel fibers and climbing・ fibers. We found that immediate early genes, particularly jun-B, were induced when pharmacologically mimicked conjunctive stimuli were applied into Purkinje cells in slices and in vivo animals.2. Gene expression under audio-visual discrimination tasksSakata and Kitsukawa in collaboration with Dr. Yoshio Sakurai (Kyoto University, the faculty of Literature) examined the gene expression of c-fos when rats were proceeding to an audio-visual descimination task and found the expression was enhanced in the auditory cortex when rats were working for audio tasks.3. An novel type RNA: rat Brain Specific Repetitive (Bsr) RNAKomine found a novel type of RNA, rat brain specific repetitive (Bsr) RNA. This RNA is unique in that it is repetitive RNA specifically expressed in the rat brain and only exists in … More the rattus.4. Finding dichromatic monkeysColor deficiency, mostly linked to X-chromosome, is found about several percent in human population. However, no color-defective monkeys were reported in old world monkeys whose genes including color pigment genes are very similar to humans. By analyzing DNA samples of 3 153 macaques, Onishi and Koike found three dichromatic monkeys. The frequency of dichromats in monkeys is significantly lower than that of humans.5. Genes specifically expressed in specific areas of the monkey neocortexThe neocortex is particularly evolved in the mammal and plays the major role in higher functions of the brain. It can be separated into distinct functional areas. By now, it has not been well understood how these areas are genetically programmed or determined by environmental inputs. We are trying to approach these questions by identifying the genes that are specifically expressed in the specific areas of neocortex. Tochitani found a gene named OCC-1 specifically expressed in the occipital cortex and Watakabe found the expression of GDF7 is higher in the mortor cortex than other are as. Less