Project Description
We will use viral vectors to express fluorescent proteins or optogenetic/chemogenetic-related proteins in neurons under the control of the immediate early gene c-fos. This gene is activated in neurons involved in recent experiences, allowing us to tag the neurons associated with social recognition memory. Mice will undergo stereotaxic surgery to inject viral vectors into the lateral entorhinal cortex. These vectors will deliver the genetic constructs needed for fluorescent tagging and optogenetic/chemogenetic manipulation. After surgery, the animals will be placed on a special Doxycycline (Dox) diet. The diet will allow temporal control of protein expression by suppressing the activity of the c-fos promoter. After the neurons are tagged, the animals will undergo behavioral tests designed to assess social recognition memory. To examine the necessity and sufficiency of the tagged neurons in social recognition memory, optogenetic and chemogenetic tools will be used. Neuronal activity will be selectively inhibited or activated during memory encoding and retrieval, and the impact on behavior will be observed. Fluorescent imaging techniques will be used to identify and track the tagged neurons during and after the behavioral tests. This will provide insight into the specific neuronal populations involved in social recognition memory
Tasks and Responsibilites
Behavioral Analysis: Assist in setting up and conducting behavioral tests, including handling animals, documenting observations, and analyzing behavioral data.
Stereotaxic Surgery: Participate in surgical procedures for viral vector injections, under supervision. Optogenetic/Chemogenetic
Experiments: Assist in the setup and execution of optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations.
Fluorescence Imaging: Help in the preparation and imaging of brain tissue to identify tagged neurons, as well as data analysis of imaging results.
Literature Review: Conduct literature reviews related to engram neurons, social recognition memory, and neuronal tagging techniques. This will aid in the understanding and contextualization of the research findings.
Team Collaboration: Actively participate in lab meetings and discussions, providing updates on progress and collaborating with team members to troubleshoot issues.
Desired Qualifications
None listed.