Neuropeptide receptors, behavioral states and acute ethanol effects

项目总结 这项研究有两个部分重叠的目标：(1)全面定义G蛋白阵列- 偶联神经肽受体，在体内调节和介导乙醇的急性作用。(2) 研究特定行为状态对酒精急性敏感性的影响。我们将描述 线虫神经肽受体在基础运动行为和酒精诱导行为中的作用 效果。这项全面的评估将确定受体积极和消极地调节 控制运动的神经元回路和那些促进或负向调节乙醇的受体 行为。我们将评估对乙醇的初始敏感性水平和与时间相关的发展 对药物的急性功能耐受。此外，对于那些作用于改变对乙醇反应的受体， 我们将对与神经肽酶nep-2的任何相互作用进行分类，该酶与哺乳动物同源。 Neprilysin蛋白。哺乳动物neprilysin蛋白参与多种重要蛋白水平的调节 信号肽，包括脑啡肽、速激肽、P物质等。Nep-2基因突变 产生一种耐酒精的行为表型。我们假设NEP-2的一个多肽靶点是 可能在nep-2突变背景下升高，通过增加 通过神经肽受体发出信号。拟议中的实验将识别该受体并测试 假设受体在控制行为状态决定的特定神经元回路中起作用。我们的 初步数据已经确定了几个既影响酒精反应又影响行为状态的突变体 影响探索行为的决定。规范该决定的电路定义良好，并包括 神经肽和5-羟色胺的作用部位。我们将定义起调控作用的基因网络 行为决策和酒精反应，并测试控制回路中的特定神经元在 调节酒精反应。人类的情绪(或情感)状态与 滥用毒品的有问题的使用引起了极大的兴趣。这项拟议研究的成功结果 将更好地理解特定的行为状态是如何由已知的调节电路控制的， 会影响对滥用药物的急性反应。有一个显著的相关性的水平之间的一个 个人对酒精的初步反应及其发展成酒精使用障碍(AUD)的可能性。遗传 这项研究中发现的线虫基因的任何人类同源基因的变异都有可能改变 个体对乙醇的反应水平，因此可能会影响个体对 在以后的生活中患上澳元。

PROJECT SUMMARY There are two, partially overlapping goals of this research: (1) comprehensively define the array of G protein- coupled neuropeptide receptors that act to modulate and mediate acute actions of ethanol in vivo. (2) investigate the impact of specific behavioral states on acute sensitivity to ethanol. We will characterize the roles of all neuropeptide receptors in C. elegans in basal locomotion behaviors and ethanol-induced behavioral effects. This comprehensive assessment will identify receptors that positively and negatively regulate the neuronal circuit that controls locomotion and those receptors that act to promote or negatively regulate ethanol actions. We will assess both the level of initial sensitivity to ethanol and the time-dependent development of acute functional tolerance to the drug. In addition, for those receptors that act to modify responses to ethanol, we will classify any interactions with the neuropeptidase nep-2, which is orthologous to the mammalian neprilysin protein. The mammalian neprilysin protein is involved in the regulation of levels of multiple important signaling peptides, including enkephalins, tachykinin, substance P and others. A mutation in the nep-2 gene produces an ethanol-resistant behavioral phenotype. We hypothesize that a peptide target of NEP-2, which is likely to be elevated in a nep-2 mutant background, acts to counteract acute effects of ethanol via increased signaling through a neuropeptide receptor. The proposed experiments will identify that receptor and test the hypothesis that the receptor acts in a defined neuronal circuit that controls behavioral state decisions. Our preliminary data has identified several mutants that affect both ethanol responses and a behavioral state decision that affects exploratory behavior. The circuit that regulates that decision is well defined, and includes the sites of action of neuropeptides and serotonin. We will define networks of genes that act to regulate that behavioral decision and ethanol responses, and test specific neurons in the controlling circuit for their role in regulating ethanol responses. The relationship between an emotional (or affective) state in humans and the problematic use of drugs of abuse is of significant interest. The successful outcome of this proposed research will provide a better understanding of how specific behavioral states, controlled by a known regulatory circuit, can impact the acute responses to an abused drug. There is a significant correlation between the level of an individual’s initial response to alcohol and their likelihood to develop an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Genetic variation in any of the human orthologs of the C. elegans genes identified in this study has the potential to alter an individual’s level of response to ethanol, and therefore could impact that individual’s predisposition to develop an AUD later in life.