Regulatory mechanisms for the forgetting of the olfactory learning in C.elegans

• Project/Area Number: 25840125
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Genetics/Chromosome dynamics
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Sawatari Etsuko 九州大学, 基幹教育院, 助教 (60456605)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
• Keywords: 学習 / 記憶 / カルシウムイメージング / 忘却 / 線虫 / 神経伝達 / 神経可塑性 / 連合学習

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In animal neuronal circuit, their memory are controlled appropriately according to the importance of the information. The forgetting processes are important for adaptation to changing environment. Our interest is how animals forget the memories. We used olfactory learning as a model for behavioral plasticity in C. elegans. By calcium imaging and behavior analyses, a novel molecule working in the synaptic release is shown to regulate the forgetting in the neural circuit.