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

这项建议调查了以觅食行为不同而闻名的漫游者果蝇和保姆果蝇的学习风格。Rover和Sitter苍蝇是觅食基因中自然产生的遗传差异的结果。流浪者通过从一块地移动到另一块地来觅食，而坐着的人则会移动到最近的食物块，并一直呆在那里，直到那块食物耗尽。流浪者和保姆因其运动模式而体验到不同的环境异质性。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环境中影响学习和记忆。例如，在基于嗅觉的联想学习范式中，拥有更高水平的名为PKG的觅食基因产物的漫游者有更好的长期记忆，而坐着的人有更好的短期记忆。这些学习风格的差异与这些苍蝇在觅食行为上的差异是相辅相成的。我们建议操纵苍蝇大脑区域的基因表达，以确定在各种环境下觅食基因在学习和记忆中所扮演的角色所涉及的神经底物和电路。我们还将研究营养不良等不良早期经历如何影响学习和记忆。最后，我们将调查PUMILLIO蛋白是否与觅食基因的RNA结合，并调节有多少是根据经验而产生的。这项提议调查了基因和环境之间在学习和记忆方面的个体差异之间的相互作用。

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.