Behaviour genetic analysis of natural variation in learning and memory in drosophila

这项建议调查学习风格的漫游者和坐在果蝇的觅食行为的差异而闻名。漫游蝇和坐蝇是由觅食基因中自然发生的遗传差异造成的。漫游者通过从一个小块移动到另一个小块来觅食，而坐者则移动到最近的食物块，并在那里呆到食物块耗尽。漫游者和静坐者由于其运动模式而经历环境异质性的差异。我们发表的和初步的数据支持这一假设，觅食基因影响学习和记忆在一些环境设置。例如，在基于嗅觉的联想学习范例中，具有较高水平的称为PKG的觅食基因产物的漫游者具有更好的长期记忆，而坐着的人具有更好的短期记忆。 这些学习风格的差异补充了这些苍蝇表现出的觅食行为的差异。我们建议操纵果蝇大脑区域的基因表达，以确定在各种环境中觅食基因在学习和记忆中的作用所涉及的神经基质和回路。我们还将研究不良的早期经历，如营养不良，如何影响学习和记忆。最后，我们将研究是否MATRILLIO蛋白结合觅食基因的RNA，并调节有多少RNA是根据经验产生的。本研究旨在探讨基因与环境在学习与记忆的个体差异中的相互作用。

This proposal investigates learning styles in rover and sitter Drosophila known for their differences in foraging behaviour. Rover and sitter flies result from a naturally occurring genetic difference in the foraging gene. Rovers forage by moving from patch to patch whereas sitters move to the nearest food patch and remain there until the patch is depleted. Rovers and sitters experience differences in environmental heterogeneity as a result of their movement patterns. Our published and preliminary data support the hypothesis that the foraging gene affects learning and memory in a number of environmental settings. For example, in an olfactory based associative learning paradigm, rovers who have higher levels of the foraging gene product called PKG have better long term memory where as sitters have better short term memory. These differences in learning style complement the differences in foraging behaviour exhibited by these flies. We propose to manipulate gene expression in brain regions of the fly to identifying neural substrates and circuits involved in the foraging gene's role in learning and memory in a variety of settings. We will also examine how adverse early experiences such as poor nutrition affect learning and memory. And finally we will investigate if the PUMILLIO protein binds the foraging gene's RNA and regulates how much of it is made in response to experience. This proposal investigates the interplay between genes and environments in individual differences in learning and memory.