Ekspresija gena MAO i COMT u mozgu gušterica vrsta Podarcis sicula i Podarcis melisellensis

master's thesis

• Title (english): Expression of MAO and COMT genes in the brain of Podarcis sicula and Podarcis melisellensis lizards
• Author: Sara Zvonar
• Mentor: Sofia Ana Blažević (mentor)
• Committee member: Sofia Ana Blažević (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Duje Lisičić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Nataša Bauer (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Dubravka Hranilović (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-04-28, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Agresivnost kao oblik kompetitivnog ponašanja česta je pojava koja uvelike utječe na odnos
između jedinki, populacija i/ili vrsta. Primijećena je i u međusobnom odnosu jedinki vrsta
Podarcis sicula (primorska gušterica) i Podarcis melisellensis (krška gušterica) duž jadranske
obale, pri čemu P. sicula kao agresivnija vrsta aktivno potiskuje P. melisellensis, smanjujući
njezin areal. Poznato je da se agresivnost javlja kao rezultat djelovanja određenih
neurotransmitera u mozgu - dopamina, serotonina i noradrenalina. Cilj ovog rada je analiza
ekspresije gena MAO (monoamin oksidaza) i COMT (katehol-O-metiltransferaza) koji
razgrađuju dopamin i tako mogu djelovati na njegovu koncentraciju u mozgu jedinki vrsta P.
sicula i P. melisellensis. U svrhu istraživanja provedeno je terensko uzorkovanje jedinki na tri
lokacije (Pag, Sinj, Knin), njihovo žrtvovanje i pohrana moždanog tkiva iz kojeg je izolirana
RNA, dizajn početnica specifičnih za vrstu, reverzna transkripcija (RT-PCR) i kvantitativni
PCR (qRT-PCR). Nije pronađena razlika u relativnoj ekspresiji gena MAO i COMT između
istraživanih vrsta.

Abstract (english)

Aggression as a form of competitive behavior is a common occurrence that greatly affects the
relationship between individuals, populations and/or species. It has also been noted in the
relationship between the species Podarcis sicula (coastal lizard) and Podarcis melisellensis
(karst lizard) along the Adriatic coast, where more aggressive P. sicula actively suppresses P.
melisellensis reducing its living area. It is known that aggression occurs as a result of the
action of certain neurotransmitters in the brain - dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. The
aim of this study was to analyze the expression of MAO (monoamine oxidase) and COMT
(catechol-O-methyltransferase) genes that degrade dopamine therefore affecting dopamine
levels in the brain of individuals of species P. sicula and P. melisellensis. Field sampling of
individuals at three locations (Pag, Sinj, Knin) was performed, their sacrifice and storage of
brain tissue from which RNA was isolated, species specific primers designed and reverse
transcription (RT-PCR) and quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) performed. No difference in the
relative expression of MAO and COMT genes was found between the studied species.

• Keywords: agresivnost; dopamin; monoamin oksidaza; katehol-O-metiltransferaza
• Keywords (english): aggression; dopamine; monoamine oxidase; catechol-O-metiltransferase
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:435130
• Study programme: Title: Experimental Biology; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra eksperimentalne biologije (magistar/magistra eksperimentalne biologije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Embargoed access; Embargo expiration date: 2024-04-28
• Created on: 2022-05-13 08:30:18