Characterization of a Synaptic Protein in the Photoreceptor Terminal

光感受器末端突触蛋白的表征

• 批准号: 8919829
• 负责人: Grant Balkema
• 金额: $ 7.34万
• 依托单位: Boston College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1990
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1990-03-01 至 1993-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8919829&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Characterization; Synaptic; Protein; Photoreceptor; Terminal

This research project will study the function of the vertebrate eye. Certain proteins in the retina of the eye undergo changes in concentration or conformation when subjected to different environmental conditions. One group of proteins found in the outer segment of the photoreceptor cell are chemically altered after exposure to light. Much less is known about the proteins contained in the terminal end of the photoreceptor cell. This structure is important because the terminal makes contact with the nerve cells which connect to higher brain centers. Within these terminal regions are "ribbon-like" structures containing a unique protein (88kD), which may be necessary for photoreceptor cells to communicate with nerve cells. Immunological and ultrastructural techniques such as monoclonal antibodies and electron microscopy will be used to study the 88kD protein in the photoreceptor terminal. Once localized, the 88kD protein will be purified and isolated. The gene for this protein will be cloned and the 88kD protein sequence will be compared to other similar proteins in national databases. These studies will provide insight into the mechanisms of cellular communication between the eye and the brain. It may also lead to advances in the study of retinal diseases.

这项研究项目将研究脊椎动物的功能 眼睛 眼睛视网膜中的某些蛋白质会发生变化 在浓度或构象时， 环境条件 一组蛋白质发现于 感光细胞的外节发生化学变化 在暴露于光之后。 对这些蛋白质的了解要少得多 包含在感光细胞的末端。 这 结构是重要的，因为端子与 连接高级大脑中枢的神经细胞 内 这些末端区域是"带状"结构， 一个独特的蛋白质（88kD），可能是感光细胞所必需的 细胞与神经细胞交流。 免疫学和超微结构技术，如单克隆 抗体和电子显微镜将用于研究88kD 光感受器末端的蛋白质。 一旦定位，88kD 蛋白质将被纯化和分离。 这种蛋白质的基因 将被克隆，并将88kD蛋白质序列与 其他类似的蛋白质在国家数据库中。 这些研究将 深入了解细胞通讯的机制 在眼睛和大脑之间。 它也可能导致进步， 对视网膜疾病的研究。