Molecular, Cellular, and Circuit Mechanisms of Nociception Behavior

摘要 伤害感受，是一种感觉机制，使动物能够感知并避免潜在的组织损伤 刺激，是跨物种生存的关键。伤害感受器是专门的神经元， 潜在的破坏因素，通过表达分子的功能，以检测和信号， 存在潜在危害。我实验室的主要研究重点是 然而，我们也探索了温柔触摸感觉的潜在机制， 最近，本体感觉。我们已经发现，这些感官中的每一种都依赖于特定类别的 无纤毛的多树枝感觉神经元。多树突状神经元专门负责特定的感觉 形态上彼此不同，它们具有不同的基因表达模式。我们 试图定义这些不同的形态如何与功能相关，以及基因表达的集合如何 在不同形态类型的神经元中，控制躯体感觉的感觉通路， 专注于伤害感受我们研究计划的首要主题是了解分子， 伤害感受背后的细胞和回路机制。我们未来研究计划的主要目标 5年将进一步表征我们已经确定的伤害感受基因的功能， 遗传学前沿我们的重点是进化上保守的基因， 在伤害感受中的重要作用。这些研究在创造新知识方面产生了最大的影响。在 此外，我们计划开始了解伤害感受行为的神经网络。

Abstract Nociception, the sensory mechanism that allows animals to sense and avoid potentially tissue-damaging stimuli, is critical for survival across species. Nociceptors are specialized neurons that detect and respond to potentially damaging factors through the expression of molecules that function to detect and signal the presence of potential harm. The primary focus of the research in my laboratory has been the study of nociception, however, we have also explored mechanisms underlying the sense of gentle touch, and most recently, the sense of proprioception. We have found that each of these senses relies on specific classes of non-ciliated multidendritic sensory neurons. The multidendritic neurons that are dedicated to a specific sensory modality are morphologically distinct from one another, and they have diverse patterns of gene expression. We seek to define how these distinct morphologies relate to function, and how ensembles of genes expressed within the distinct morphological types of neurons control sensory pathways of somatosensation with a primary focus on nociception. The overarching theme of our research program is understanding the molecular, cellular, and circuit, mechanisms underlying nociception. The primary goal of our research program in the next 5 years will be to further characterize the function of the nociception genes that we have identified using forward genetics. Our focus is on evolutionarily conserved genes that are not already understood to play important roles in nociception. These studies provide the greatest impact in creating new knowledge. In addition, we plan to begin to understand the neuronal network for nociception behavior.