Elucidation of the molecular mechanism underlying the olfactory individuality

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20378
• Project/Area Number (Other): 18H05369 (2018-2019)
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Pioneering)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund (2020); Single-year Grants (2018-2019)
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 44:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Chihara Takahiro 広島大学, 統合生命科学研究科(理), 教授 (00431891)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-06-29 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 嗅覚 / 神経 / ショウジョウバエ / 個性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is known that there are differences in olfactory sensitivity among individuals even within the same animal species. In this study, we aimed to clarify the mechanism that regulates the olfactory sensitivity of each individual. As a result of behavioral experiments and gene expression analysis of Drosophila, it was found that the "sNPFR (sNPF neuropeptide receptor) gene" that fluctuates depending on the starvation level fluctuates in each individual and regulates the olfactory sensitivity. This fact suggests that even with the same genetic background, olfactory sensitivity fluctuates greatly depending on the slight starvation level (when and how much food was eaten) in each individual.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

私達は味覚、嗅覚、満腹レベルがそれぞれ関連しあっていることを経験的に知っている。今回、本研究では、僅かな飢餓レベルによって嗅覚感度が変化することを明らかにした。これに関わる分子として、sNPFRという神経ペプチド受容体の関わりも見出している。今回のショウジョウバエにおける知見は、我々ヒトを含めた哺乳類でも同様の仕組みで「飢餓レベルと嗅覚感度」の間の調節が行われている可能性を示唆している。