Genetic and Molecular Analysis of Neurotransmitter Release in C. elegans

神经系统细胞（称为神经元）之间的交流是通过称为神经递质的化学物质完成的。这种化学通讯（突触传递）包括将神经递质包装成囊泡，当神经元被激活时，囊泡被释放。这个项目的目标是了解这些囊泡释放的分子和遗传基础。研究人员正在研究土壤线虫秀丽隐杆线虫的突触传递，通过分离编码这些蛋白质的基因突变，研究人员发现了参与神经递质囊泡释放的新蛋白质。这些基因突变的动物在化学神经递质乙酰胆碱和γ -氨基丁酸介导的突触传递中存在缺陷。这些研究将对神经元的囊泡释放调控以及其他细胞类型的囊泡介导的胞吐作用提供重要的见解。

9421505 Alfonso Communication between cells of the nervous system (called neurons) is done via chemicals called neurotransmitters. This chemical communication (synaptic transmission) involves packaging of the neurotransmitter into vesicles that are released when the neuron is activated. The goal of this project is to understand the molecular and genetic bases of release of these vesicles. Synaptic transmission is being studied in the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, where the investigator has identified new proteins involved in the neurotransmitter vesicular release through the isolation of mutations in the genes that encode these proteins. Animals with mutations in these gene have defects in synaptic transmission mediated by the chemical neurotransmitters acetylcholine and gamma-aminobutyric acid. These studies will give important insights into the regulation of vesicular release from neurons and also vesicle-mediated exocytosis in other cell types.