Processing gustatory information in the fly brain

描述（由申请人提供）：检测和响应化学信号的能力对动物生存至关重要。味觉系统主要参与喂食决策，使动物能够区分有营养的食物和有毒的食物。大脑是如何处理对周边味觉线索的检测，以得出适当的进食决定的，这在任何生物中都不清楚。果蝇的味觉系统为味觉检测和摄食行为的研究提供了一个很好的模型，因为它与明确的化学线索，强大的行为反应和复杂的神经系统，这是服从分子，遗传和电生理方法。这项提案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喂养决定至关重要。目的1将研究候选的二级味觉神经元的解剖和潜在的连接，为理解味觉加工提供一个框架。目标2将测试二阶神经元是否整合跨味觉模态的信息，或者它们是否具有模态选择性。这将提供重要的洞察力如何在大脑中编码的味道线索。目标3将测试的假设，候选人的第二阶味觉神经元功能的喂养决策，通过检查的行为后果，选择性地操纵活动的第二阶神经元。拟议的分子遗传学，细胞和行为的方法将提供一个全面的分析味觉加工，这是很难实现在其他系统。这些研究将提供深入了解味觉信息是如何在大脑中处理的，是了解昆虫摄食的重要基础， 虫媒疾病的传播

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.