Career Development in epigenetic control of memory maintenance

描述（由申请人提供）：认知和记忆丧失障碍影响大部分美国人口，并且随着人类预期寿命的持续增加，导致行为缺陷和记忆丧失的迟发性障碍的发生率正在上升。学习行为的长期记忆的分子基础知之甚少，因此任何对学习和记忆机制的分子遗传学见解将对人类记忆丧失的预防，治疗和逆转产生广泛且可能深远的影响。我们建议检验这一假说，即表观遗传因素在长期记忆的维持中起着关键作用.通过使用果蝇，我们将探索表观遗传因素的可能功能，并将调查模型，将解决学习行为和表观遗传过程之间的相互作用，随着时间的推移，在维持长期记忆。 公共卫生相关性：认知和记忆丧失障碍影响大部分美国人口，并且随着人类预期寿命的持续增加，导致行为缺陷和记忆丧失的迟发性障碍的发生率正在上升。我们将探讨表观遗传因素的可能功能，并将研究模型，将解决长期记忆维持过程中的学习行为和表观遗传过程之间的相互作用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cognitive and memory loss disorders affect a large part of the US population, and as life expectancy of humans continues to increase, the occurrence of late onset disorders leading to behavioral deficits and memory loss is on the rise. The molecular basis of long-term memory of learned behaviors is poorly understood, and thus any molecular genetic insights into the mechanisms of learning and memory will have broad and possibly profound implications for the prevention, treatment and reversal of memory loss in humans. We propose to test the hypothesis that epigenetic factors play critical functions in maintenance of long- term memory. By using Drosophila we will explore the possible function of epigenetic factors and will investigate models that will address the interactions among learned behaviors and epigenetic processes during maintenance of long- term memory over time. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Cognitive and memory loss disorders affect a large part of the US population, and as life expectancy of humans continues to increase, the occurrence of late onset disorders leading to behavioral deficits and memory loss is on the rise. We will explore the possible function of epigenetic factors and will investigate models that will address the interactions among learned behaviors and epigenetic processes during maintenance of long-term memory.