Processing gustatory information in the fly brain

描述（由申请人提供）：探测和响应化学信号的能力对动物的生存至关重要。味觉系统主要参与喂食决策，使动物能够区分营养食物和有毒食物。在任何生物体中，我们都不知道大脑如何处理周围的味觉线索，从而做出适当的进食决定。果蝇的味觉系统为味觉探测和摄食行为的研究提供了一个极好的模型，因为它与明确定义的化学线索、强大的行为反应和一个复杂的神经系统有关，可以适应分子、遗传和电生理方法。这项提议的长期目标是增加对调节食物摄入的神经通路的理解，这对于设计合理的方法来操纵进食决定至关重要。目的1将检查候选二级味觉神经元的解剖结构和潜在的连接，为理解味觉加工提供一个框架。目的2将测试二阶神经元是否整合跨味觉模式的信息，或者它们是否具有模式选择性。这将为了解味觉线索是如何在大脑中编码提供重要的见解。目的3将通过检查二级神经元选择性操纵活动的行为后果，测试候选二级味觉神经元在喂养决策中起作用的假设。提出的分子遗传学，细胞和行为方法将提供味觉处理的综合分析，这在其他系统中很难实现。这些研究将提供味觉信息如何在大脑中处理的见解，并且是理解昆虫摄食的重要基础，与限制有关

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The ability to detect and respond to chemical signals is essential for animal survival. The gustatory system is primarily involved in feeding decisions, allowing animals to distinguish foods that are nutritious versus those that are toxic. How the detection of gustatory cues in the periphery is processed by the brain to elicit appropriate feeding decisions is not understood in any organism. The gustatory system of Drosophila provides an excellent model for studies of taste detection and feeding behavior because it is associated with well-defined chemical cues, robust behavioral responses and a complex nervous system that is amenable to molecular, genetic and electrophysiological approaches. The long-term objective of this proposal is to increase understanding of the neural pathways that regulate food intake, crucial for devising rational approaches to manipulate feeding decisions. Aim 1 will examine the anatomy and potential connectivity of candidate second- order taste neurons to provide a framework for understanding gustatory processing. Aim 2 will test whether second-order neurons integrate information across taste modalities or whether they are modality-selective. This will provide important insight into how taste cues are encoded in the brain. Aim 3 will test the hypothesis that candidate second-order taste neurons function in feeding decisions, by examining the behavioral consequences of manipulating activity selectively in second-order neurons. The proposed molecular genetics, cellular and behavioral approaches will provide a comprehensive analysis of taste processing that is difficult to achieve in other systems. These studies will provide insight into how gustatory information is processed in the brain and are an essential foundation for understanding insect feeding, relevant to limiting the spread of insect-borne disease.