触觉是一种重要感觉，涉及环境感知、躲避伤害、运动、社交以及情感和智力等重要生命活动。然而触觉感知的分子机制还有很多未知之处。我们的前期研究发现果蝇III型da感觉神经元上的Brv1蛋白不仅可以作为机械敏感性离子通道直接参与果蝇轻触觉感知，还可以间接放大另外一个参与轻触觉感知的机械敏感性离子通道NOMPC对触觉刺激的响应。但是Brv1和NOMPC如何在III型da感觉神经元上相互作用，两者如何协调参与果蝇触觉感知的具体机制还不清楚。在前期研究的基础上，本项目通过FRET、BiFC、Co-IP、Pull-down、质谱等手段，结合钙成像、电生理记录、动物行为学技术，以及相互作用位点预测、蛋白质分子动力模拟、定点突变分析等方法，从细胞和活体动物水平明确Brv1-NOMPC的相互作用，阐明两者的相互作用在果蝇轻触觉感知中的分子机制，为进一步揭示人和哺乳动物的触觉机制以及临床干预提供依据。

Touch sensation is the ability to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli, and is essential for fundamental behaviors including harm avoidance, environmental exploration, postures, movements, social exchange, emotion and intelligence. However, the underlying mechanism and molecular identity for touch sensation are largely unknown. Our previous studies found that Brv1 in Drosophila larvae class III dendritic arborization neurons could not only act as a mechanosensitive ion channel to directly mediate the gentle touch sensation, but also could amplify the mechanical response of NOMPC, which is another mechanosensitive ion channel in class III dendritic arborization neurons involved in gentle touch sensation. However, how Brv1-NOMPC interaction is required for responding to gentle touch, and how Brv1 and NOMPC work together to mediate touch sensation, is not clear. Based on the previous findings, in this project we will use FRET, BiFC, Co-IP, Pull-down, mass spectrum approaches, combing the Ca2+ imaging, electrophysiological recording, behavioral assay and techniques of interaction prediction, molecular dynamics simulation and site-directed mutagenesis, to determine the Brv1-NOMPC interaction in cell and animal level. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the mechanism of the Brv1-NOMPC interaction in Drosophila larvae gentle touch sensation, and it provides insight into the molecular mechanisms of touch sensation of human and mammalian.