Behaviour genetic analysis of natural variation in learning and memory in drosophila

这一提议调查了流浪果蝇和坐着果蝇的学习方式，因为它们在觅食行为上的差异而闻名。流浪蝇和坐蝇是由觅食基因的自然遗传差异产生的。漫游者通过从一块地移动到另一块地来觅食，而静坐者则移动到最近的食物块，并留在那里直到那块食物耗尽。由于它们的运动模式不同，漫游者和坐着者在环境异质性方面也会有所不同。我们发表的和初步的数据支持这样的假设，即觅食基因在许多环境设置中影响学习和记忆。例如，在基于嗅觉的联想学习范式中，漫游者拥有更高水平的被称为PKG的觅食基因产物，他们有更好的长期记忆，而坐着的人有更好的短期记忆。这些学习方式的差异补充了这些果蝇在觅食行为上的差异。我们建议操纵果蝇大脑区域的基因表达，以确定在各种环境下参与觅食基因在学习和记忆中的作用的神经基质和回路。我们还将研究不良的早期经历，如营养不良如何影响学习和记忆。最后，我们将研究PUMILLIO蛋白是否与觅食基因的RNA结合，并根据经验调节其分泌量。本研究旨在探讨基因和环境在个体学习和记忆差异中的相互作用。

This proposal investigates learning styles in rover and sitter Drosophila known for their differences in foraging behaviour. Rover and sitter flies result from a naturally occurring genetic difference in the foraging gene. Rovers forage by moving from patch to patch whereas sitters move to the nearest food patch and remain there until the patch is depleted. Rovers and sitters experience differences in environmental heterogeneity as a result of their movement patterns. Our published and preliminary data support the hypothesis that the foraging gene affects learning and memory in a number of environmental settings. For example, in an olfactory based associative learning paradigm, rovers who have higher levels of the foraging gene product called PKG have better long term memory where as sitters have better short term memory. These differences in learning style complement the differences in foraging behaviour exhibited by these flies. We propose to manipulate gene expression in brain regions of the fly to identifying neural substrates and circuits involved in the foraging gene's role in learning and memory in a variety of settings. We will also examine how adverse early experiences such as poor nutrition affect learning and memory. And finally we will investigate if the PUMILLIO protein binds the foraging gene's RNA and regulates how much of it is made in response to experience. This proposal investigates the interplay between genes and environments in individual differences in learning and memory.