Genetics & Circuits/ Innate Avoidance Behavior in Flies

我想研究先天行为是如何受基因控制的。许多对行为至关重要的基因已经被克隆和鉴定。这些行为基因对特定的神经元基质产生影响，进而介导行为的表现。我最近与Seymour Benzer实验室合作，开发了一种新的行为测试，用于果蝇的先天回避反应-我们称之为“苍蝇恐惧”测试。在这个实验中，果蝇避开了t形迷宫中的一个管子，在这个迷宫中，一组果蝇之前受到过创伤。我假设受到创伤的苍蝇会发出“警报”物质，这种物质会被应答的苍蝇识别并避开。通过这个实验，我将对两组突变体进行基因筛选，一组不能释放这种物质，另一组不能避免这种物质。为了给从筛选中分离出的基因提供神经解剖学基础，我将在果蝇大脑中鉴定两组释放物质和避免物质所需的位点。

I would like to study how innate behavior is controlled by genes. A number of genes essential for behaviors have been cloned and characterized. These behavior genes exert their influences on specific neuronal substrates which, in turn, mediate the manifestations of the behavior. I recently developed a novel behavior assay for an innate avoidance response in Drosophila in collaboration with Seymour Benzer laboratory- we call it "fly fear" assay. In this assay, fruit flies avoid a tube in a T-maze in which a set of flies were previously traumatized. I hypothesize that flies being traumatized emit "alarm" substance which is recognized and avoided by responder flies. Using this assay, I will genetically screen for two sets of mutants, one failing to emit the substance and another failing to avoid the substance. To provide neuroanatomical basis for genes isolated from the screen, I will identify two sets of loci in the fly brain required for emission of the substance and avoidance of the substance. To do this, I will perform an unbiased circuit screen using the Gal4/UAS system and the temperature sensitive allele of Shibire. Once the genes and circuits are identified, I will rescue the behavior defect by expressing the genes identified from the genetic screen in the circuits identified from the circuit screen. This will unify our understanding at both the level of the gene and of the circuit.