Objetivo The main hypothesis of the present projects it to find out whether a gene can be specific for certain behaviour. We recently identified Helix Command Specific 2 (HCS2) gene, which is expressed primarily in the subset of command neurons for withdrawal behaviour of the terrestrial snail, and encodes a unique hybrid neuropeptide precursor. Preliminary cloning and sequencing data indicate that a closely related homologue of the HCS2 is present in Aplysia. In order to establish specificity of the HCS2 gene for the withdrawal behaviour in different species we plan to establish presence of HCS2-immunoreactive cells in Hirudo medicinalis, Lymnaea stagnalis, Aplysia californica, Clione limacina using antibodies to neuropeptides encoded by the HCS2 gene. Functional role of revealed cells will be established using electrophysiological, immunochemical, morphological and pharmacological methods in Helix, Hirudo, Aplysia, Clione and Lymnaea. Factors influencing down- and up-regulation of HCS2 expression will be determined in Helix, Hirudo, Aplysia, Clione and Lymnaea.In order to describe functional role of the HCS2 gene and pathways of intracellular processing of its product we plan to establish in vitro co-cultures of identified Helix neurons participating in the withdrawal behaviour of the snail, and effects of addition of identified mature peptides or antibodies against these peptides on establishment of connections between neurons will be studied. Effects of mature peptides on neural survival and growth will be studied using Helix co-cultures of identified neurons. An attempt to selectively block expression of the HCS2 gene in single identified Helix neurons using intracellular injection of antisense morpholino oligonucleotides will be made. Pathways of processing the precursor neuropeptides encoded by the HCS2 gene and mature peptides will be investigated using antibodies against encoded peptides during up- and down-regulation at the level of light and electron microscopy. Programa(s) IC-INTAS - International Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the independent states of the former Soviet Union (INTAS), 1993- Tema(s) 4 - Life Sciences OPEN - OPEN Call Convocatoria de propuestas Data not available Régimen de financiación Data not available Coordinador Universita degli Studi di Pisa Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección via S. Zeno 31 56127 Pisa Italia Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Participantes (5) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo A.A. Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology Ucrania Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Bogomoletz str.4 252601 GSP Kiev Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Russian Academy of Sciences Rusia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Butlerova 5A 117485 Moscow Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Russian Academy of Sciences Rusia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Sybirskii Street, 10/7 420029 Kazan Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Russian Academy of Sciences Rusia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 32 Vavilov Street 117984 Moscow Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Universität Salzburg Austria Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Hellbrunnerstr. 34 5020 Salzburg Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos
