Objective
Drosophila is a valuable model organism in the discovery of new memory genes because of the simplicity of its brain and the power of its genetics. Drosophila can store memories for more than 24 hours - a process known as long-term memory (LTM) (4,5). LTM seems to be evolutionarily conserved since similar genes such as the transcription factor CREB play an important role in this process in as diverse animals as snails, flies and mice (1,3). Transcription factors have been long known to play an important role in LTM (1). However, until now, only a few of them have been identified and studied in this process until now. Here, we propose to use Drosophila to identify and characterize new transcription factors involved in LTM. We will use micro-arrays to compare t he expression profiles of LTM trained and untrained flies. Transcription factors with modified expression profiles will be tested directly for their involvement in LTM in vivo: UAS-RNAi constructs for the particular transcription factors will be expressed in the adult fly brain in a temporally and spatially controlled manner using conditional-GAL4 drivers, and these flies will be tested for LTM performance. One/few transcription factors will be selected to be further analysed in detail for their specific role in the olfactory LTM formation.
The expression patterns will be examined by stainings, the particular regulatory pathways will be delineated using fly genetics, and the putative interactors or target promoters will be characterized using biochemistry and molecular biology methods. Given the evolutionary conservation of the molecular mechanisms of neuronal plasticity, the characterization of new LTM transcription factors in Drosophila may help even to understand how human memories are stored and shed light on the genetic background of certain memory disorders.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-5
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Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
PARIS
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.