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NeuroContext

Financiado
The impact of genetic background in the activity of single neurons
Behaviors are quantitative traits, influenced by natural genetic variants in many different genes. Ultimately, polymorphisms impact the activity of single neurons to modify behavior. However, studies to dissect neuronal circuits a... Behaviors are quantitative traits, influenced by natural genetic variants in many different genes. Ultimately, polymorphisms impact the activity of single neurons to modify behavior. However, studies to dissect neuronal circuits are performed in a single genetic background, without the genetic context where they evolved. In this action, I propose to study neuronal activity in a more natural genetic context, by manipulating the activity of single neurons and measuring the resulting impact on behavior in several genetic backgrounds. This will allow determining how robust are neural circuits to genetic perturbation and identifying polymorphisms that modulate neuronal activity at the single neuron resolution. To study the impact of genetic background in neuronal activity, I will use D.melanogaster, which offer versatile genetic tools to manipulate activity of single neurons, resources for rapid analysis of population genetics and robust behavioral assays. One conserved behavior that flies share with many other species is the freeze or flee response to threats. Many aspects of this behavior have been dissected in flies, including the role of descending neurons (DNs), which connect the brain to motor centers. In here, I will inhibit the activity of DNs previously shown to impact the freezing behavior in response to looming stilmuli. This will be performed in several genetic backgrounds, using a collection of inbreed lines with fully sequenced genomes. With this, I will identify polymorphisms that interact with the action of single DNs, trough genome wide association study (GWAS). The candidate genes from this analysis will be tested for their role in modulating the neuronal activity. NeuroContext will elucidate how genetic polymorphisms, present in natural populations, interact with the activity of single neurons. This will greatly impact the future research in neurosciences, by informing on how genetic backgrounds have to be considered in research programmes. ver más
31/08/2023
160K€
Duración del proyecto: 28 meses Fecha Inicio: 2021-04-01
Fecha Fin: 2023-08-31

Línea de financiación: concedida

El organismo H2020 notifico la concesión del proyecto el día 2023-08-31
Línea de financiación objetivo El proyecto se financió a través de la siguiente ayuda:
WF-03-2020: Widening Fellowships
Cerrada hace 4 años
Presupuesto El presupuesto total del proyecto asciende a 160K€
Líder del proyecto
FUNDACAO D. ANNA DE SOMMER CHAMPALIMAUD E DR.... No se ha especificado una descripción o un objeto social para esta compañía.
Perfil tecnológico TRL 4-5