Olfactory perception in Drosophila: analysis of a novel iGluR-related family of odorant receptors

Objective

Chemosensory systems permit organisms to perceive diverse chemicals in the environment signalling the presence of food, dangers, kin or mates. How a specific chemical stimulus is recognised and converted into neural activity that provokes the appropriate behaviour is a fundamental problem in neuroscience. I investigate this question in the olfactory system of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, which exhibits sophisticated odour-driven behaviours under the control of a simple and genetically accessible nervous system. I recently discovered a novel Drosophila olfactory receptor family, the Ionotropic Receptors (IRs). IRs are expressed in sensory neurons distinct from the previously described Odorant Receptor (OR) family. Strikingly, IRs are structurally similar to ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), a conserved family of ligand-gated ion channels present in animals, plants and bacteria. iGluRs are best characterised for their role in mediating synaptic communication in the mammalian brain as receptors for the neurotransmitter glutamate, but IRs have divergent ligand-binding domains. The proposed project investigates the function of the IRs and their sensory circuits in the recognition of, and behavioural responses to, olfactory stimuli through four specific aims. Aim 1: Defining the molecular basis of IR/odour interactions. Aim 2: Visualising the mechanisms of IR trafficking. Aim 3: Mapping IR sensory circuits in the brain. Aim 4: Exploring the behavioural responses mediated by IR olfactory pathways. By combining genetic, cell biological, electrophysiological and behavioural approaches, this project will provide an integrated understanding of the function and evolution of these novel olfactory receptors and circuits. This knowledge will be of significance to chemical detection mechanisms across diverse sensory systems in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, and of interest to chemical ecologists, neuroscientists, evolutionary biologists and biomedical researchers.

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.

• natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
• natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
• agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture horticulture fruit growing

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

• Drosophila
• Drosophila genetics
• chemosensation
• genetics
• olfaction
• olfaction chemosensation

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

• 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)

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.

• ERC-SG-LS4 - ERC Starting Grant - Physiology, Pathophysiology and Endocrinology

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

ERC-2007-StG
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Funding Scheme

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.

ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant

Host institution

Beneficiaries (1)