Reconstruction of memory in C. elegans

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16KT0172
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 特設分野
• Research Field: Constructive Systems Biology
• Research Institution: Shiga University of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: Sugi Takuma 滋賀医科大学, 神経難病研究センター, 助教 (70571305)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-07-19 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: C. elegans / memory / Synthetic biology

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Previous biochemical experiments had showed the phosphorylation of p38 oscillation. We succeeded in establishing two systems for quantifying the oscillation of p38 activity in vivo non-invasively and published that systems in two papers. We then actually quantified the p38 activity using them and found no oscillation of them. This could result from that the p38 oscillation reflects the intestine’s event. We are therefore now trying to confirm the activity change of p38 under the mechanical stimulation. Secondary, we also established the tool for artificially manipulating the gene expression of glr-1 downstream of p38. We now applied them for manipulating the mechanosensory memory of C. elegans.

Free Research Field

生物物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

既に生化学的実験からは記憶媒体と予想される分子メカニズムを捉えているが, 本研究では, これを構成的に理解するために, 計測系と操作系を作製までは行ったが, 実際の線虫の記憶操作までには至らなかった. しかしながら, 今後, これを継続し, 仮に記憶操作まで至れば, これまでの要素還元主義的なアプローチとは異なる切り口により, 記憶の分子メカニズムを示すことができることから, 学術的・社会的に大きな意義が期待される.