From People - School of Science, The University of Tokyo
國友 博文 (くにとも ひろふみ)
KUNITOMO, Hirofumi
| Title | Research Associate |
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| Affiliation | Molecular Genetics Research Laboratory, Graduate School of Science |
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| Room | 601, Faculty of Science Bldg.7, 6F |
| TEL | +81-3-5841-3034 23034 (ext.) |
Research Field
Molecular Biology
Research Subject
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of salt-concentrations memory in C. elegans
Current Research
The soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans senses and responds to a variety of chemicals. Behavior of the animals can easily be observed by placing them on a thin agar layer on which a gradient of chemicals is created. Salt, especially for NaCl, has been considered as an attractive cue for C. elegans. We have recently found, however, that a combination of food and salt conditions prior to the behavioral test affects preference for salt. Further, this organism has a memory for salt concentrations: it is attracted to a NaCl concentration under which food was previously provided. Taking advantage of genetics, we are addressing the molecular and neural mechanisms of this behavioral plasticity.
Keywords
C. elegans, behavior, neural circuit, learning and memory