# Social experience dependent modification of gene regulation and circuit function

> **NIH NIH R01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $208,603

## Abstract

RESEARCH STRATEGY
NIGMS administrative equipment supplement for Parent Award R01GM146010 (NOT-GM-22-017):
PI: Pelin C. Volkan - Social experience-dependent modification of gene regulation and circuit function
 Animals modulate their social behaviors in response to both internal and GH CS♂ SH CS♂
environmental signals to increase fitness. The molecular and neural circuit-based
mechanisms underlying behavioral regulation in response to sensory cues remain
unclear. The parent award addresses the role of social experience in modulating gene Canton S ☿ w1118☿
expression, circuit function, and courtship behaviors in D. melanogaster. In D.
melanogaster, FruitlessM (FruM) and DoublesexM (DsxM) are critical transcription factors
that control male-specific innate and learned courtship behaviors, respectively [1-3].
Socially experience alters male courtship in both wild-type and fru mutants, as well as GH SH 1. GH SH
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modifying fru transcription and chromatin state [4-7]. The awarded proposal monosexually grouped or
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identify social experience and pheromone signaling-dependent changes in
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around fru and 2) dsx genes, and 3) determine their effects on downstream t
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expression, circuit function, and behavioral outputs.
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 15
 Scientific Justification for Requested Supplement Equipment: 10
 5
 All objectives of the parent award R01GM146010 necessitate quantitati 0
responses from P1 courtship command neurons in the central brain. To
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 Courtship Index
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requesting funds to purchase the Bruker Ultima Investigator Plus Laser Scanning microscope with a Coherent
AXON 920-2 TPC laser to support the parent award 5R01GM146010. Aligned with the goals of the parent
proposal, we found that social isolation increases the activity
of P1 courtship command neurons and courtship behaviors, AA B
as well as altering the transcriptional and chromatin state of
fru, dsx, and other neuromodulatory genes in the brain. To
causally link the effects of socially regulated genes on
courtship circuit activity, all aims depend on 2-photon imaging
of courtship command neurons in genetic and functional
manipulation of distinct genes and neurons within the
 C D
courtship circuits. Bruker Ultima Investigator Plus Laser
Scanning microscope with a Coherent AXON 920-2 TPC
laser will allow the detection, resolution, and quantitative
analysis of calcium dynamics of critical neurons in the
courtship circuits, in response to different social contexts as Figure 2. A) P1 Courtship command neuron dendritic field for
 calcium recording. B) 2-photon microscopy set up for live
well ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11034737
- **Project number:** 3R01GM146010-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Corbin D Jones
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $208,603
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-06-15 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11034737

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11034737, Social experience dependent modification of gene regulation and circuit function (3R01GM146010-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11034737. Licensed CC0.

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