GENES CONTROLLING SOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN ANTS

这个子项目是许多利用 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金， 因此可在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者所在的机构。 A.具体目标 原提案的具体目标： 1.确定蜜蜂基因的火蚁同源物，预测任务行为。 2.将已知的特定于社会任务的大脑区域大小变化与基因表达差异相关联。 3：沉默特定基因的表达，以测试社会行为的丧失。 修改具体目标1以回应2004年10月8日摘要声明中的批评： 1.确定蜜蜂基因的火蚁同源物预测任务行为，并确定用于社会沟通的化学信号。 B。研究和结果 1.参与任务行为和社会交流的基因。我们试图通过原位杂交定位蛋白激酶G表达的脑区，但得到了不一致的结果。我们在洛桑火蚁文库中鉴定了11个化学感受蛋白（CSP）序列。CSP 1对应的序列，我们以前发现是主要的低分子量蛋白在工人天线。我们克隆了重组CSP 1，并在E.大肠杆菌中进行纯化。重组CSP 1与N-苯基萘胺（NPN）结合，如通过结合后NPN荧光的增强所检测。我们测得的亲和力约为10 μ M，与之相比，NPN与蝗虫CSP-sg 4结合的亲和力为4 μ M。我们将提取的表皮碳氢化合物添加到CSP 1-NPN复合物中，发现提取物的一种或多种组分将NPN从其在CSP 1上的结合位点置换。因此，表皮烃提取物中含有一种或多种信号分子。 C.意义 昆虫模式系统与人类健康密切相关，并且昆虫模式系统具有一些优点，包括避免在脊椎动物上进行实验和基因操作的简单性。 D.计划 我们将使用免疫细胞化学鉴定火蚁脑中PKG的表达区域。将鉴定表皮烃提取物的CSP 1结合组分。将进行PKG的RNAi研究。 E.出版物：无 F.项目产生的资源：无

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. A. Specific Aims Specific aims in original proposal: 1: Identify fire ant homologs of bee genes predictive of task behavior. 2: Correlate known social task-specific size changes in brain regions with differences in gene expression. 3: Silence expression of specific genes to test for loss of social behavior. Modification of specific aim 1 in response to critiques in Summary Statement of 8-10-2004: 1. Identify fire ant homologs of bee genes predictive of task behavior, and identify chemical signals used in social communication. B. Studies and Results 1. Genes involved in task behavior and social communication. We attempted to locate the brain region of protein kinase G expression by in situ hybridization, but inconsistent results were obtained. We identified 11 chemosensory protein (CSP) sequences in the Lausanne Fire Ant Library. CSP1 corresponded to a sequence which we previously found to be the major low molecular weight protein in worker antennae. We cloned and expressed recombinant CSP1 in E. coli and purified it by chromatography. The recombinant CSP1 binds to N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN), as detected by enhancement of NPN fluorescence upon binding. We measured the affinity as about 10 ¿M, which compares with 4 ¿M for NPN binding to locust CSP-sg4. We added extracted cuticular hydrocarbons to the CSP1-NPN complex and found that one or more components of the extract displaced NPN from its binding site on CSP1. Thus, one or more signalling molecules are contained in the cuticular hydrocarbon extract. C. Significance Insect model systems are relevant to human health, and insect model systems have some advantages, including avoidance of experimentation on vertebrates and the simplicity of gene manipulations. D. Plans We will identify the region of expression of PKG in fire ant brains using immunocytochemistry. The CSP1-binding components of the cuticular hydrocarbon extract will be identified. RNAi studies of PKG will be done. E. Publications: none F. Project-generated resources: none