Nitric Oxide Signaling in a Model Olfactory System

描述（由申请人提供）：一氧化氮（NO）是一种小的气态自由基分子，可介导对血管、免疫和神经系统的正常功能至关重要的细胞信号传导。在神经系统中，它能够在没有专门的突触机制的情况下穿过细胞膜并介导细胞之间的通信，这赋予了它传统神经递质所不可能的力量和灵活性。高水平的一氧化氮合酶（产生NO的酶）表达导致了一种假设，即NO介导和/或调节初级嗅觉神经元内的信号传导。这一想法已被加强的观察，标志性的球状结构内的初级嗅觉神经元可能是理想的调节扩散的小分子，如NO。该建议利用相对简单，但平行组织的昆虫嗅觉系统调查内的初级嗅觉神经元NO信号的功能。我们将研究嗅觉系统中NO的产生、扩散和功能。这将通过应用一组专家研究人员的才能来完成以下三个具体目标：（1）表征气味诱导的NO在AL内的产生和扩散。（2）表征NO信号在AL神经元中的功能作用。(3)表征的行为后果的干扰NO信号在AL。这些具体目标的成功完成将导致非常详细的了解NO在这个模型的嗅觉系统的功能的作用。这种理解将有助于深入了解这一重要信号系统在包括人类在内的其他生物体中的功能。此外，这些见解可能会成为其他实验的基础，这些实验旨在研究这种非常重要的信号分子在其他嗅觉系统和一般神经系统中的作用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Nitric oxide (NO) is a small, gaseous free radical molecule that can mediate cellular signaling that is critical for the proper functioning of the vascular, immune and nervous systems. Within the nervous system, its ability to cross cell membranes and mediate communication between cells in the absence of specialized synaptic machinery gives it a power and flexibility not possible for conventional neurotransmitters. High levels of nitric oxide synthase (the enzyme that generates NO) expression has led to the hypothesis that NO mediates and/or modulates signaling within the primary olfactory neuropil. This idea has been strengthened by the observation that the hallmark spheroidal structures within the primary olfactory neuropil could be ideal to regulate the diffusion of a small molecule such as NO. This proposal takes advantage of the relative simplicity, but parallel organization of an insect olfactory system to investigate the function of NO signaling within the primary olfactory neuropil. We will investigate the production, diffusion, and function of NO within the olfactory system. This will be done by applying the talents of a group of expert researchers to complete the following three specific aims: (1) Characterize odor-induced NO production and diffusion within the AL. (2) Characterize the functional roles of NO signaling in AL neurons. (3) Characterize the behavioral consequences of interfering with NO signaling in the AL. The successful completion of these specific aims will result in a very detailed understanding of the role of NO in the function of this model olfactory system. This understanding will yield insight into the function of this important signaling system in other organisms including humans. In addition, these insights will likely serve as the basis for other experiments designed to examine the role of this very important signaling molecule both in other olfactory systems and in the nervous system in general.