Genetic Analysis of Nematode Behavior

线虫行为的遗传分析

• 批准号: 7096577
• 负责人: SCOTT W EMMONS
• 金额: $ 22.83万
• 依托单位: ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-08-01 至 2009-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7096577
• 关键词: Caenorhabditis elegans; behavior test; behavioral /social science research tag; behavioral genetics; ethology; gene environment interaction; gene expression; gene interaction; genetic mapping; genetic models; genetic screening; helminth genetics; histamine; libido; male; molecular cloning; motivation; mutant; neurotransmitters; octopamine; psychopharmacology; reproduction; serotonin; serotonin transporter; sex behavior

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This research investigates the genetic basis of male sexual motivation and behavior. Behaviors leading to sexual reproduction are essential for the survival of most animal species, yet little is presently known about how the nervous system generates appropriate motivational states and appetitive and consummatory sexual behaviors. One approach to understanding animal behavior is to identify essential genes and study their cellular expression patterns and molecular functions. In order to identify genes required for male sexual behavior, mutants defective in both appetitive and consummatory phases of sexual behavior will be identified in the soil round worm Caenorhabditis elegans, a well-defined invertebrate genetic model organism. Preliminary studies have established a quantitative behavioral assay for a putative mate-searching behavior of the adult C. elegans male. The assay has been used to show that expression of mate-searching behavior is regulated by presence or absence of suitable mates, nutritional status, and signals from the reproductive system. The results are interpreted to indicate that mate-searching is potentiated by a regulated state of the nervous system that we define as the nematode analog of a sex drive motivational state of higher animals. Genetic screens will be performed to identify new mutants of two types: mutants in which males fail to express mate-searching behavior and mutants in which males exhibit sex drive yet fail to copulate. Selective genes identified will be molecularly cloned and the identity and expression patterns of their products defined. Among three mate-searching-defective genetic loci already identified, one encodes the C. elegans homolog of the serotonin reuptake transporter, the target in both humans and nematodes of fluoxetine antidepressants. In view of the sexual dysfunction caused by fluoxetine administration in humans, this result suggests that these studies may have relevance to understanding motivated sexual behavior in humans and thus may have potential clinical implications.

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究调查了男性性动机和行为的遗传基础。导致有性生殖的行为对大多数动物物种的生存至关重要，但目前对神经系统如何产生适当的动机状态以及食欲和完成性行为知之甚少。了解动物行为的一种方法是识别必需基因并研究其细胞表达模式和分子功能。为了鉴定雄性性行为所需的基因，将在土壤圆线虫秀丽隐杆线虫（Caelihabditis elegans）（一种定义明确的无脊椎动物遗传模式生物）中鉴定在性行为的食欲和完成阶段都有缺陷的突变体。 初步的研究建立了一种定量的行为分析方法，可以用来研究拟赤眼蜂成虫的求偶行为。男性。该试验已被用来表明，择偶行为的表达是由存在或缺乏合适的配偶，营养状况，和来自生殖系统的信号。结果被解释为表明，交配搜索是加强了调节状态的神经系统，我们定义为线虫模拟的性驱动动机状态的高等动物。 将进行遗传筛选，以确定两种类型的新突变体：突变体中的男性不能表达求偶行为和突变体中的男性表现出性欲，但不能交配。选择性的基因将被分子克隆，并确定其产物的身份和表达模式。 在已经确定的三个择偶缺陷基因座中，一个编码C。5-羟色胺再摄取转运蛋白的elegans同系物，氟西汀抗抑郁药在人类和线虫中的靶点。鉴于氟西汀给药引起的人类性功能障碍，该结果表明，这些研究可能与理解人类动机性行为相关，因此可能具有潜在的临床意义。