# Epigenetic control of behavior

> **NIH NIH R35** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $410,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Societies are organized into hierarchies, which fundamentally involve social conflict. As a result, there are
winners and losers, and social defeat can profoundly impact animals, with the potential to induce abnormal
behavior and disease. In this research interest statement, I propose the social ant Harpegnathos saltator as a
novel model system to study how epigenetic factors and gene regulation modulate neuronal circuitry resulting in
specific social behaviors. The social ant Harpegnathos saltator is an emerging model to study epigenetics of the
social behavior because the distinct caste phenotypes of workers and gamergates are specified by the same
genome. Unlike most ant species, Harpegnathos individuals can change caste through adulthood: when the
queen dies or is removed from a colony, workers enter a dominance tournament until a few become reproductive
individuals, called gamergates. Along with changes to behavior and physiology, gamergate status is
accompanied by a six-fold lifespan extension and changes in neuronal gene expression and chromatin
organization. This transition to gamergate can also be completely reversed by inducing social defeat in
gamergates. Our research will address two major topics of epigenetic regulation in the social brain. First, how
do social interactions like social bonding, aggression and social defeat induce epigenetic changes responsible
for long-lasting behavioral phenotypes? Second, we plan to develop ant models of autism spectrum disorders
by generating mutants of ant homologs to human ASD risk genes. We will study the impact of these mutations
on chromatin organization, gene expression and behavior in both castes. Harpegnathos ants can provide
mechanistic insights into connection between epigenetic pathways, behavior and neurodevelopmental disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10940498
- **Project number:** 1R35GM154875-01
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Janko Gospocic
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $410,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2029-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10940498

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10940498, Epigenetic control of behavior (1R35GM154875-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10940498. Licensed CC0.

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