Non-coding RNA in the olfactory system of Drosophila

项目摘要 气味检测和识别对动物的生存至关重要。主要问题仍然是关于 嗅觉系统受环境条件调节的分子机制， 动物的内部状态。非编码RNA（ncRNA）在嗅觉中几乎未被探索。 ncRNA的许多结构和功能特征可用于嗅觉编码， 调节，以及迅速扩大的证据表明，ncRNA在调节细胞凋亡中起着深远的作用。 其他神经系统果蝇是一个强大的模式生物，在其中调查的潜力， ncRNA在嗅觉分子基础中的作用这项提案涉及的是 果蝇的触角，重点是一个特别有趣的ncRNA。 在前期工作中，我描述了D.黑腹菌和 鉴定了10种在果蝇触角中富集的丰富的ncRNA，包括4种在果蝇触角中富集的ncRNA。 食物和/或信息素感器。我发现其中一种ncRNAs在 这些动物都处于饥饿状态，我将其命名为ANRUS，即饥饿导致的脑内ncRNA上调。的 拟议的项目旨在表征这些触角ncRNA，重点是ANRUS。 第一个目的是确定ANRUS的表达模式。我将表演单分子 荧光原位杂交，以确定在哪些细胞和细胞区室，这种ncRNA 是局部的，这可能会给它的功能提供线索。如果在神经元中检测到， 表达ncRNA的类别。结果可能表明，ncRNA在细胞内起作用。 对某些气味的反应。ANRUS定位的动态将在某些 条件（例如饥饿、预先暴露于气味剂、隔离和老化）。亚细胞变化 定位可以指示在适应相应的环境或内部状态中的作用。 第二个目的是表征缺乏ANRUS的果蝇。我培育出的变异苍蝇 ANRUS和初步的电生理测量显示，在缺乏ANRUS的果蝇中， 某些神经元在饥饿状态下不能提高它们的嗅觉灵敏度。我将进一步研究 在电生理学和行为测定中检测突变果蝇，以检验这种ncRNA 在饥饿果蝇的嗅觉调制和编码中起着重要作用。 这个项目的首要目标是扩大我们对生物学的分子基础的理解， 嗅觉最终，这个项目可以揭示感觉编码的新原理和神经元的新作用。 ncRNA。

Project summary Odor detection and identification are critical to animal survival. Major questions remain about the molecular mechanisms by which olfactory systems are modulated by environmental conditions and the internal state of the animal. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) remains virtually unexplored in olfaction. Many structural and functional features of ncRNA could be exploited in olfactory coding and modulation, and a rapidly expanding body of evidence shows that ncRNA plays a profound role in other neural systems. Drosophila is a powerful model organism in which to investigate the potential role of ncRNA in the molecular basis of odor perception. This proposal concerns ncRNA in the Drosophila antenna, with a focus on one particularly intriguing ncRNA. In preliminary work, I characterized the antennal ncRNA landscape of D. melanogaster and identified 10 abundant ncRNAs that are enriched in the fly antenna, including 4 that are enriched in food- and/or pheromone-sensing sensilla. I found that one of these ncRNAs is upregulated when the animals are starved and I named it ANRUS, Antennal ncRNA Upregulated by Starvation. The proposed project is designed to characterize these antennal ncRNAs, with a focus on ANRUS. The first aim is to determine the expression pattern of ANRUS. I will perform single molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization to determine in which cells and cellular compartments this ncRNA is localized, which may give clues to its function. If detected in neurons, I will identify the neuronal class in which the ncRNA is expressed. The results may suggest that an ncRNA acts in the response to certain odors. Dynamics of ANRUS localization will be assessed across certain conditions (e.g. starvation, pre-exposure to odorant, isolation and age). Changes in subcellular localization may indicate a role in adaptation to the corresponding environmental or internal state. The second aim is to characterize flies lacking ANRUS. I have generated mutant flies lacking ANRUS, and preliminary electrophysiological measurements revealed that in flies lacking ANRUS, certain neurons fail to increase their olfactory sensitivity under starvation. I will further examine the mutant flies in electrophysiological and behavioral assays to test the hypothesis that this ncRNA plays an essential role in olfactory modulation and coding in starved flies. The overarching goal of this project is to broaden our understanding of the molecular basis of olfaction. Ultimately, this project could reveal new principles of sensory coding and new roles of ncRNAs.