Ionic Mechanisms in Pattern-Generator Neurons

神经细胞通过细胞膜上带电离子的运动来发射电脉冲。这种离子电流流经特殊的蛋白质通道，该通道可能被限制为特定类型的离子，例如钠、钾或钙。在神经冲动过程中，特定离子携带的电流的大小和发生的时间是决定神经系统正常功能的重要因素。由于自然界中存在许多类型的离子通道和通道亚型，了解它们的多样性和每个通道的调节方式是至关重要的。在龙虾身上发现了一种可能的新型通道，即携带“J流”的通道。这一电流对钙离子的存在特别敏感，钙离子可能作为通道活动的调节器。研究J电流很重要，因为它与哺乳动物大脑中发现的离子电流相似。本研究的具体目的是：(1)确定携带J-电流的离子，(2)研究其与钾电流等其他离子电流的关系，(3)分析某些药物对J-电流的影响，以及(4)确定其生理作用。这项研究收集的数据可能为深入了解离子通道的进化和高等生物中离子通道的功能提供依据。

Nerve cells fire electrical impulses by the movement of charged ions through the cell membrane. This ionic current flows through specialized protein channels which may be restricted to a specific type of ion e.g. sodium, potassium or calcium. The amount of current carried by a particular ion and the time it occurs during the nerve impulse are important factors in determining normal function of the nervous system. Since many types of ionic channels and subtypes of channels exist in nature, it is essential to understand their diversity and the ways in which each channel is regulated. One possible new type of channel, carrying the "J-current", has been discovered in the lobster. This current is particularly sensitive to the presence of calcium, which may act as a regulator of channel activity. Studying the J-current is important because it is similar to ionic currents found in mammalian brain. The specific aims of this research are: (1) to identify the ion which is responsible for carrying the J-current, (2) to study its relationship to other ionic currents e.g. potassium current, (3) to analyze the effect of certain drugs on the J-current and (4) to determine its physiological role. The data collected by this research may provide insight into the evolution of ionic channels and the function of ionic channels in higher organisms.