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The neuromodulatory role of dopamine signaling on locomotion of Drosophila Larvae

Award Number: F31NS134267
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

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The neuromodulatory role of dopamine signaling on locomotion of Drosophila Larvae - Project Summary/Abstract – Stephanie Dancausse Sensory experiences are detected by the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and then transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS) where neurons within the brain respond to produce appropriate behavioral output. These behavioral outputs include locomotion whose underlying neural mechanisms are conserved throughout many taxa. Sensory experiences or the action of neurotransmitters can act on the neural circuits that carry out locomotion through various mechanisms to modulate its behavioral features. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the CNS, is known to act as a neuromodulator of motor output, however the exact neural circuits involved and the mechanisms by which the neural activity modulates locomotion remain unknown. To do this, I will employ advanced genetic tools to manipulate dopaminergic neuron activity in the CNS and record the larvae’s resultant behavior with a novel robotic rig that allows for long-term behavioral assays on the order of days. I find that larvae do modulate aspects of their locomotive behavior in response to pharmacological manipulation of the dopaminergic pathway. In vivo neural confocal microscopy and calcium imaging will be conducted to probe the descending neural targets in the neural circuit that control larval locomotion. Manipulations of identified neurons will be carried using genetic tools to demonstrate their roles in the behaviors characterized. In this project I will 1) determine the behavioral impact of dopamine signaling in the CNS through genetic manipulations and 2) identify and study the downstream targets of dopamine neurons that control larval locomotion. These experiments will use novel approaches and methods to understand the neuromodulatory role of dopamine signaling on larval locomotion.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $47,446 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI	1320 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY STE 650	CORAL GABLES	FL	33146	MIAMI-DADE	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	002	1	5/14/2024	NEW	$1,280
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI	1320 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY STE 650	CORAL GABLES	FL	33146	MIAMI-DADE	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	4/8/2024	NEW	$46,166
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI	1320 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY STE 650	CORAL GABLES	FL	33146	MIAMI-DADE	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	1	4/8/2024	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $47,446

Grand Total All Awards = $47,446

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The neuromodulatory role of dopamine signaling on locomotion of Drosophila Larvae

Award Number: F31NS134267

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

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