Unveiling the molecular mechanism of innate fear using forward genetic screen approach

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14874
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Integrative animal science
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: LIU Qinghua 筑波大学, 国際統合睡眠医科学研究機構, 教授 (90723792)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KOBAYAKAWA Reiko 公益財団法人大阪バイオサイエンス研究所, 神経機能学部門, 研究部長 (40372411) ; YANAGISAWA Masashi 筑波大学, 国際統合睡眠医科学研究機構, 教授 (20202369)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: フォワード・ジェネティックス / 先天的恐怖 / 精神障害 / モデルマウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To understand the molecular mechanism of fear, we developed a robust predator odor-based innate fear assay, and conducted a forward genetic “FEAR” screen in N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-mutagenized mice. To date, we have successfully established two mutant pedigrees with abnormal fear behaviors, and identified the causative mutation in one mutant pedigree named Popcorn. We recreated Popcorn mutant mice by CRISPR/Cas9 system to confirm the causality of the Popcorn mutation. Moreover, we discovered that the Popcorn mice also exhibited socially submissive and anxiety phenotypes.

Free Research Field

農学