Molecular and neural mechanisms for a memory of sensory stimulus and behavioral choice

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26430007
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: KUNITOMO Hirofumi 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 准教授 (20302812)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): IINO Yuichi 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科, 教授 (40192471)
• Research Collaborator: SATO Hirofumi 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科, 研究員 ; PARK ChanH 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科, 大学院生
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 記憶と学習 / 線虫 / 走化性 / シナプス可塑性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Learning ability is essential for animals to better adapt and survive in variable environment, and such ability is implemented even in animals with simple neural circuit. Salt chemotaxis of the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a memory-dependent navigation behavior: animals are attracted to the salt concentration at which they have been fed, whereas they avoid it if they have been starved. We characterized the genes and neural mechanisms required for this learning.
Synaptic transmission from the taste receptor neuron ASER to a pair of interneurons AIB has been implicated as the site of modulation in salt chemotaxis learning. We here revealed that the sign of synaptic transmission reverses according to salt experience, which might generate migration toward opposite directions on the salt gradient. Both excitatory and inhibitory transmissions were at least partially glutamatergic and dependent on EAT-4 (VGLUT) that act in ASER and GLR-1 (AMPA receptor) in AIB.

Free Research Field

神経科学