PEPTIDELEARNING

The Role of Neuropeptides in Learning and Memory

Coordinatore	KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN    more Spiacenti, non ci sono informazioni su questo coordinatore. Contattare Fabio per maggiori infomrazioni, grazie.
Nazionalità Coordinatore	Belgium [BE]
Totale costo	2˙463˙028 €
EC contributo	2˙463˙028 €
Programma	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)
Code Call	ERC-2013-ADG
Funding Scheme	ERC-AG
Anno di inizio	2014
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2014-02-01   -   2019-01-31

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN  Organization address address: Oude Markt 13 city: LEUVEN postcode: 3000 contact info Titolo: Dr. Nome: Stijn Cognome: Delaure Email: send email Telefono: +32 16 320 944 Fax: +32 16 324 198	BE (LEUVEN)	hostInstitution	2˙463˙028.00
2	KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN  Organization address address: Oude Markt 13 city: LEUVEN postcode: 3000 contact info Titolo: Prof. Nome: Liliane Cognome: Schoofs Email: send email Telefono: 3216324577 Fax: 32163902	BE (LEUVEN)	hostInstitution	2˙463˙028.00

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Humanity has always been intrigued by the nearly mythical properties of the brain. With its billions of neurons and innumerable connections, the brain is of such complex nature, that trying to understand it may seem a vain project. Yet, by using the ‘mini-brain’ of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, which shares many components with the human brain but counts only 302 neurons, thorough research can penetrate into this complexity. We here pursue to deliver a much-needed understanding of how learning and memory processes are regulated by neuropeptide signaling in the brain. Neuropeptides are small regulatory proteins that are implicated in a variety of processes. Growing evidence exists for their involvement in learning and memory, but how they exert these effects is largely unexplored. In C. elegans we recently disentangled a conserved vasopressin/ocytocin-related system that –as in humans– mediates associative learning. As such, we can deliver the experience, model and logical approach to provide detailed insights in neuropeptidergic control of learning and memory. We will first identify the endogenous ligand of all orphan C. elegans neuropeptide GPCRs, as this will provide the essential basis to build this project on. Mutants of neuropeptide-receptor pairs will then be tested for their ability to learn or maintain associative short- or long-term memory. We will also define in which cells and circuits relevant neuropeptides and receptors are needed for these functions, in order to generate models of neuropeptidergic control of learning and memory. We envisage the use of novel tools and cutting-edge experimental setups to take this research beyond its current horizon. Via single cell RNA sequencing, optogenetic analyses and in vivo calcium imaging, we will develop a workflow to build integrative models of associative learning and memory processes mediated by neuropeptides, which will serve as a scaffold for the study of these processes in more complex brains.'