Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: ANDREA CAROLINE COSTA DE ARRUDA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : ANDREA CAROLINE COSTA DE ARRUDA
DATE: 08/04/2022
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81682313106?pwd=cTJKdXQ2UXBlL3JQajR1blhwcytYUT09
TITLE:

ZENK regulates the song learning of Zebra finch (Taenopygia gutatta)

KEY WORDS:

Zebra Finches,  ZENK, Immediate early genes,  vocal learning

PAGES: 56
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Fisiologia
SUMMARY:

Activity dependent gene expression is thought to represent the link between neuronal activity and memory formation. Among these  genes, egr1 (a.k.a. zenk) was one of the first examples of a behaviorally driven  gene and has been linked to memory formation in rodents. Nonetheless, the role  of zenk in vocal learning, remains unknown. To investigate the precise contribution of  this gene for the acquisition and maintenance of song memories in zebra finches  (Taeniopigygia guttata), we developed a dominant negative ZENK to manipulate the transcriptional activity of the endogenous protein. Using this tool we found that normal ZENK  activity is required for song acquisition and crystalization in juveniles. Downregulation of ZENK transcriptional activity using an alternate inhibitor, NAB1, confirms these results and provides support for the specificity of our manipulation.  Moreover, our results show that ZENK blockade consistently does not leads to alteration of innate components of singing, suggesting that this activity-dependent gene only alters learned behaviors. Our findings provide for the first time a clear causal link between activity dependent genes and  song learning and song stability. More importantly, they represent one of the first  steps towards understanding the molecular processes involved in the acquisition,  consolidation and reconsolidation of vocal signals, a process that is also required  for human speech. 

BANKING MEMBERS:
Interna - 1976236 - EMELIE KATARINA SVAHN LEAO
Interno - 1660044 - SIDARTA TOLLENDAL GOMES RIBEIRO
Presidente - 2183828 - TARCISO ANDRE FERREIRA VELHO