MECHANOSENSORYTREES

Role of Mechanosensory Touch-Based Cues on Arborization of Neuronal Dendritic Trees

Coordinatore	TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY    more  Organization address address: TECHNION CITY - SENATE BUILDING city: HAIFA postcode: 32000 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Mark Cognome: Davison Email: send email Telefono: +972 4 829 3097 Fax: +972 4 823 2958
Nazionalità Coordinatore	Israel [IL]
Totale costo	100˙000 €
EC contributo	100˙000 €
Programma	FP7-PEOPLE Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Code Call	FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG
Funding Scheme	MC-CIG
Anno di inizio	2011
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2011-09-01   -   2015-08-31

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY  Organization address address: TECHNION CITY - SENATE BUILDING city: HAIFA postcode: 32000 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Mark Cognome: Davison Email: send email Telefono: +972 4 829 3097 Fax: +972 4 823 2958	IL (HAIFA)	coordinator	100˙000.00

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'To convey sensory touch inputs, neurons must have the ability to sense and translate mechanical stimuli into electrical signals. This process, known as mechanosensation, relies on the proper structuring and development of neuronal dendritic trees (arborization). There is growing evidence supporting the required role of environmental cues in determining the definitive morphology of dendritic trees. In turn, arborization is expected to result from both intrinsic neuronal differentiation as well as extrinsic contributions from the external environment. However, there is little understanding of how mechanosensory signals regulate the morphological arborization process, and conversely how the morphology of dendritic trees affects mechanosensation. Yet, defects in neuronal development and mechanosensory function can contribute to neuro-developmental disorders such as Down’s syndrome and autism. In the present proposal, we aim at deepening our quantitative understanding of the influence of touch-based sensory input in determining dendritic patterns during development. The proposed work is built around three pillars of research using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. We will implement (i) live imaging techniques of mechanosensory touch neurons in whole organisms, (ii) statistical models using machine learning to quantify the structure and patterns of neuronal trees, and (iii) behavioral assays of C. elegans to characterize the influence of extrinsic sensory inputs on motility phenotypes. This latter step will rely heavily on engineering fluidics and quantitative visualization techniques. It is anticipated that an integral characterization of the coupling between mechanosensory input and dendritic arborization will pave the way towards a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and potential treatment strategies.'