The Role of M-Ras in Social Recognition

我研究细胞之间和细胞内部交流的各个方面。15年前，我们发现了RAS蛋白家族的一个新成员，称为M-RAS，它存在于哺乳动物和蠕虫等更简单的生物中。RAS家族成员将细胞外部的信号与细胞内部发生的结果变化联系起来。我们建立了不含M-RAS的小鼠和蠕虫来研究其功能。在研究缺乏M-RAS的小鼠时，我们观察到更高水平的攻击性，改变了社会互动，增加了与某些个体的交配行为，以及糟糕的育儿技能。这些行为涉及一个已知的学习过程，需要从干细胞产生新的神经元，并暴露在新的气味或信息素中。M-RAS在哺乳动物的大脑中含量丰富，尤其是在产生新神经元的区域。M-RAS在蠕虫的感觉器官和生殖器官中含量较高，提示缺乏M-RAS的蠕虫在气味和交配行为方面存在变化。我们想要了解M-RAS调节参与气味学习的细胞的分子机制，并确定信息素分泌是否可能发生改变。同时，我们将与蠕虫行为专家凯西·兰金博士合作，研究不同转基因小鼠和蠕虫的行为。我们认为，M-RAS是第一个可以将信息素的即时检测与神经元产生和气味学习过程联系起来的信号分子。这一关于个体识别、攻击性和生殖行为记忆的新基础知识可能会对农业中的动物繁殖和濒危物种的保护产生影响。

I study various aspects of communication between and inside of cells. Over 15 years ago, we discovered a new member of the Ras family of proteins, called M-Ras, which is present in both mammals and simpler organisms like worms. The Ras family members link signals from the outside of the cell to the resulting changes that happen inside the cell. We created mice and worms without M-Ras to investigate its function. While studying mice that lack M-Ras, we observed higher levels of aggression, altered social interactions, increased mating behavior with certain individuals and poor parenting skills. These behaviours involve a learning process that is known to require the generation of new neurons from stem cells and exposure to new odours or pheromones. M-Ras is abundant in the brain of mammals and particularly in areas where new neurons are made. M-Ras is abundant in worms in the sensory organs and reproductive organs of worms, suggesting that there are changes in odour and mating behavior in worms lacking M-Ras. We want to understand the molecular mechanisms by which M-Ras regulates the cells involved in odour learning and also determine if pheromone secretion may be altered. We will, in parallel, study the behaviour of different genetically modified mice and worms in collaboration with Dr. Cathy Rankin, an expert in worm behavior. We believe that M-Ras is the first signaling molecule that could connect the immediate detection of pheromones to the process of neuron production and odour learning. This new fundamental knowledge about memory of individual recognition, aggression and reproductive behaviour may have implications for animal reproduction in agriculture and in the conservation of endangered species.