Neurotransmitter Specification and Regulation

[9310162]神经递质是大脑中用于神经细胞或神经元之间交流信号的分子化合物。适当的神经递质的发育对任何动物神经系统的正常发育都是至关重要的，它建立和调节神经细胞之间的交流。这个项目利用了一种被称为秀丽隐杆线虫的微小蛔虫极其简单的神经系统，它有一个额外的优势，可以进行复杂的基因研究。一种名为flp-1的基因被发现编码一组称为FRMF酰胺样肽的化合物，这些化合物是重要的神经递质。这项工作将使用分子遗传技术来检查转录过程的控制，这些转录过程是来自基因的肽表达的基础。这项工作将表征flp-1基因，并确定与flp-1相互作用的启动子元件和基因，这对神经肽表达的规范和调节很重要。这一遗传途径的分子表征可能会让我们深入了解神经元如何在发育过程中表达特定的神经递质的机制，其结果将对神经科学、遗传学和发育生物学的许多领域产生影响。* * *

9310162 Li Neurotransmitters are the molecular compounds that are used for communication signals between nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain. Development of the proper neurotransmitters is critical to the normal development of the nervous system in any animal, to establish and regulate communication between the nerve cells. This project exploits the extremely simple nervous system of a tiny roundworm, known as C. elegans, which has the added advantage of allowing sophisticated genetic studies. A gene called flp-1 has been discovered to encode a group of compounds called FRMF amide- like peptides that are important neurotransmitters. This work will use molecular genetic techniques to examine the control of the transcription process underlying the expression of the peptides from the gene. The work will characterize the flp-1 gene, and identify the promoter elements and genes that interact with flp-1, important to the specification and regulation of neuropeptide expression. Molecular characterization of this genetic pathway may yield insights into the mechanisms of how neurons are developmentally programmed to express specific neurotransmitters, and results will have impact across many areas of neuroscience, genetics and developmental biology. ***