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Campus where you would like to present
SURC Room 137B
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
C. elegans, Serotonin, Behavior
Abstract
Understanding the neural basis for response to chronically elevated serotonin is important for pharmaceutical treatment of mood disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia. Chronic elevation of neurotransmitters can cause adaptation, or a diminished response, to the neurotransmitters. We have developed an assay which utilizes locomotion in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to study changes in genes/proteins involved in behavioral adaptation to serotonin. We have identified two mutant strains that fail to undergo adaptation to serotonin, protein kinase c-1 (pkc-1) and def-1. We also identified a novel phenotype in these mutants, depressed foraging. The purpose of this study is to characterize the cellular mechanisms by which pkc-1 modulates serotonin-dependent behavioral adaptation and to investigate the link of the depressed foraging phenotype and serotonin-dependent behavioral adaptation. Identification of cellular mechanisms that cause serotonin-dependent behavioral adaptation will further the understanding of how antidepressant drugs, which chronically elevate serotonin, influence the nervous system.
Recommended Citation
Ronk, Seth, "Characterizing PKC-1’s role in 5-HT dependent behavioral adaptation and depressed foraging, in Caenorhabditis elegans" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 58.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/oralpresentations/58
Additional Mentoring Department
Biological Sciences
Characterizing PKC-1’s role in 5-HT dependent behavioral adaptation and depressed foraging, in Caenorhabditis elegans
SURC Room 137B
Understanding the neural basis for response to chronically elevated serotonin is important for pharmaceutical treatment of mood disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia. Chronic elevation of neurotransmitters can cause adaptation, or a diminished response, to the neurotransmitters. We have developed an assay which utilizes locomotion in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to study changes in genes/proteins involved in behavioral adaptation to serotonin. We have identified two mutant strains that fail to undergo adaptation to serotonin, protein kinase c-1 (pkc-1) and def-1. We also identified a novel phenotype in these mutants, depressed foraging. The purpose of this study is to characterize the cellular mechanisms by which pkc-1 modulates serotonin-dependent behavioral adaptation and to investigate the link of the depressed foraging phenotype and serotonin-dependent behavioral adaptation. Identification of cellular mechanisms that cause serotonin-dependent behavioral adaptation will further the understanding of how antidepressant drugs, which chronically elevate serotonin, influence the nervous system.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Carnell, Lucinda