Genes underlying reproductive behavior physiology and neuronal development

项目总结/摘要 为了了解心理健康和疾病，我们需要了解大脑在基因水平上的功能， 基因调控网络、神经元、电路结构和生理学。果蝇已经成为 考虑到工具的范围和分析的易处理性， 复杂的行为。该计划旨在了解果蝇的生殖行为。 果蝇是一个如此强大的系统的原因之一是性别特异性的主调节转录因子 直接生殖行为是已知的。这提供了一个强大的分子入侵到识别和 操纵这些行为背后的神经元。这些工具也可以用于执行神经元特异性 突变研究，以发现基因的功能，指导行为，这利用了一个最大的 果蝇模型系统的优势。此外，该系统提供了一个无与伦比的模型， 这些神经元的性别特异性发育以及它们如何被成年人的经历所改变。研究使用 果蝇模型继续揭示了生物学上重要的过程， 健康和疾病，包括神经系统和行为的研究。这项工作将建立在我的 实验室15年NIGMS资助的研究计划。我们将继续探讨这些行为问题 利用尖端的分子遗传学、基因组学、蛋白质组学、行为学和显微镜工具， 复杂的行为

Project Summary/Abstract To understand mental health and disease, we need to understand the function of the brain at the level of genes, gene regulatory networks, neurons, circuit structure, and physiology. Drosophila has emerged as one of the most powerful model systems for these questions, given the range of tools and the tractability of analyzing complex behaviors at all these levels. This proposal seeks to understand Drosophila reproductive behaviors. One reason Drosophila is such a powerful system is that the sex-specific master regulatory transcription factors that direct reproductive behaviors are known. This has provided a powerful molecular inroad into identifying and manipulating the neurons that underlie these behaviors. These tools can also be used to perform neuron-specific mutational studies to discover the functions of genes that direct behaviors, which leverages one of the biggest strengths of the Drosophila model system. In addition, this system affords an unparalleled model to both examine the sex-specific development of these neurons and how they are modified by adult experiences. Research using the Drosophila model has continued to uncover biologically important processes that have informed on human health and disease, including studies of the nervous system and behavior. The work will build off of my laboratories 15-year NIGMS funded research program. We will continue to address these behavioral questions using cutting-edge molecular-genetic, genomic, proteomic, behavioral and microscopy tools to gain insights into complex behaviors.