Genetics of social space in Drosophila melanogaster

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Social interactions are crucial to the proper development and health of individuals, but the genetic and neural bases of social behavior are still poorly understood. I am interested in determining the mechanisms by which animals respond to the presence of another similar individual, from perception to integration and decision making: how does an animal decide what to do with the information that an other individual is nearby? What are the mechanisms underlying social interactions? I have made significant contributions to this question, using Drosophila melanogaster. I developed powerful behavioural assays - social space and avoidance of stressed individuals - allowing for powerful quantification of social interactions, and determination of the underlying neural circuits. In addition, through the manipulation of the vesicular monoamine transporter, my previous work suggests a role for dopamine in the modulation of various behaviours, including individual spacing. Over the next five years, I propose to focus on the involvement of dopamine in social behaviour. We will use genetic and biochemical tools in Drosophila melanogaster, in order to answer the following questions: Does the level of dopamine directly correlate with individual distance? Which dopamine receptors are influencing social behaviour? Which subpopulation of neurons expressing dopamine and dopamine receptors are involved in social behaviour and what are the downstream neural pathways that they modulate? With the help of graduate and undergraduate students, we will address these questions using both genetic mutants and pharmacological approaches; and we will identify the neuronal circuitry responsible for individual space determination, through a screen blocking and enhancing synaptic transmission, using specific drivers. This work will initiate the mapping of the central brain neural substrate underlying basic (non-sexual and non-aggressive) response to another nearby fly. This work will be relevant not only to studies of Drosophila behaviour, but also to genetics of social behaviour in other organisms. Indeed, as for other behaviours initially dissected in Drosophila - learning and memory, circadian rhythm - the cellular and molecular basis of social behaviour might be conserved through evolution, through pre-social to eu-social species in the form of a molecular "tool kit". As the assays that I developed are easy to master, the students working on this new research program will become experts rapidly in biochemical, neurological, and genetic skills that are highly desirable in academia, government and industry research. The students will be able to contribute in a meaningful way to scientific knowledge, and will have a platform to develop their interests in pursuing a career in research or other technical fields. I plan on training approximately five MSc, two PhD and fifteen undergraduate students.