Objective Neural circuits, composed of interconnected neurons, represent the basic unit of the nervous system. One way to understand the highly complex arrangement of cross-talking, serial and parallel circuits is to resolve its developmental and evolutionary emergence. The rationale of the research proposal presented here is to elucidate the complex circuitry of the vertebrate and insect forebrain by comparison to the much simpler and evolutionary ancient “connectome” of the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii. We will build a unique resource, the Platynereis Neuron Type Atlas, combining, for the first time, neuronal morphologies, axonal projections, cellular expression profiling and developmental lineage for an entire bilaterian brain. We will focus on five days old larvae when most adult neuron types are already present in small number and large part of the axonal scaffold in place.Building on the Neuron Type Atlas, the second part of the proposal envisages the functional dissection of the Platynereis chemosensory-motor forebrain circuits. A newly developed microfluidics behavioural assay system, together with a cell-based GPCR screening will identify partaking neurons. Zinc finger nuclease-mediated knockout of circuit-specific transcription factors as identified from the Atlas will reveal circuit-specific gene regulatory networks, downstream effector genes and functional characteristics. Laser ablation of GFP-labeled single neurons and axonal connections will yield further insight into the function of circuit components and subcircuits. Given the ancient nature of the Platynereis brain, this research is expected to reveal a simple, developmental and evolutionary “blueprint” for the olfactory circuits in mice and flies and to shed new light on the evolution of information processing in glomeruli and higher-level integration in sensory-associative brain centres. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidicsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencedata processingnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyinvertebrate zoology Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-LS3 - ERC Advanced Grant - Cellular and Developmental Biology Call for proposal ERC-2011-ADG_20110310 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Coordinator EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY Address Meyerhofstrasse 1 69117 Heidelberg Germany See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Heidelberg, Stadtkreis Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Jillian Rowe (Ms.) Principal investigator Detlev Arendt (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY Germany EU contribution € 2 489 048,00 Address Meyerhofstrasse 1 69117 Heidelberg See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Heidelberg, Stadtkreis Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Jillian Rowe (Ms.) Principal investigator Detlev Arendt (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
