Project description DEENESFRITPL Insight into how the brain changes our appetite for proteins A balanced intake of proteins is essential for animal and human well-being. The EU-funded P-appetite project is using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to investigate the neuronal mechanisms that regulate protein intake and food consumption behaviour. Drosophila is known to change the frequency and duration of its feeding bursts upon amino acid restriction. Based on that, researchers will combine functional studies with neuronal experiments to understand the mechanism underlying protein-specific appetite. Results will have important consequences for human diet and the animal feed industry. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Balanced intake of nutritional amino acids is a key determinant of fitness across animal phyla including Drosophila, mice and humans. Imbalanced protein intake have severe implications for health, lifespan and fecundity. To maintain protein homeostasis, animals evolved physiological, neuronal and behavioral strategies that secure balanced intake of dietary amino acids. Altogether, these strategies give rise to protein-specific appetite where deficiency of a dietary amino acids subsequently triggers increased consumption of food sources rich in protein.Drosophila feeding behavior, like many animals including humans, comprises hierarchically-organized behavioral sequences that are tightly regulated by the protein state of the fruit fly. These behavioral sequences include meals that are organized into feeding bursts composed of multiple sips of the food source (the feeding microstructure). It has been shown that deprivation of dietary amino acids specifically modulate the duration of the feeding bursts to trigger compensatory consumption of protein-rich sources. However, the modulatory pathways and neural circuits that ensure protein homeostasis by regulating the feeding microstructure with such specificity remain elusive.In the proposed project we aim to identify and characterize modulatory pathways and neural circuits controlling protein-specific appetite. To achieve this, we will combine high-resolution behavioral analysis of feeding with unprecedented neurogenetic toolkit of Drosophila to monitor and manipulate activity in defined subsets of neurons. By using anatomical and functional neural-circuit mapping strategies, we will provide a circuit-level explanation for the regulation of behavioral sequences underlying protein-specific appetite. Fields of science agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growingnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaminesmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologyhomeostasis Programme(s) H2020-EU.4. - SPREADING EXCELLENCE AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION Main Programme Topic(s) WF-01-2018 - Widening Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-WF-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-WF-01-2018 Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator FUNDACAO D. ANNA DE SOMMER CHAMPALIMAUD E DR. CARLOS MONTEZ CHAMPALIMAUD Net EU contribution € 159 815,04 Address Avenida brasilia, centro de investigacao da fundacao champalimaud 1400-038 Lisboa Portugal See on map Region Continente Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
