Cell Biology of Prohormone Processing in Identified Peptidergic Neurons

小蛋白分子或多肽，在大脑细胞间的通讯中起重要作用。这些肽的合成是一项复杂的任务，包括通过特定的酶从较大的前体分子中切除肽。此外，这些肽必须被分隔或包装在大脑中，以便在刺激脑细胞时释放出来。为了完成这种释放，较大的前体分子和处理前体的酶必须共同储存，这样传递信息的肽就可以从较大的分子上切下来，在细胞之间释放。然而，这种材料的包装是如何完成的仍然未知。内格尔博士将使用一个完善的系统来研究负责将这些肽从前体中切割出来的酶是如何完成的。预计这些研究还将确定酶中的特定结构域，这些结构域负责将含有肽的前体和酶靶向到适当的分泌装置。这些研究对于理解细胞间的信息传递具有重要的基础意义。这些研究的发现适用于大脑细胞和外周组织。然而，更重要的是，这些研究提供了信息在神经系统细胞间传递的生化基础或大脑功能的基础。

Nagle 9511773 Small protein molecules or peptides, play an important role in communication between cells in the brain. The synthesis of these peptides is a complex task involving the excision of the peptide from a larger precursor molecule by specific enzymes. Moreover, these peptides must be compartmentalized or packaged in the brain in such away that they can be released upon stimulation of the brain cell. To accomplish this release, the larger precursor molecules and the enzymes to process the precusor must be co-stored so the information transmitting peptide can be cut from the larger molecule and released between cells. However, how this packaging of material is accomplished remains unknown. Dr. Nagle will use a well-established system to investigate how the enzymes responsible for cleaving these peptides from their precursors is accomplished. It is anticipated that these studies will also identify specific domains in the enzymes responsible for targeting the peptide-containing precursors and enzymes to the appropriate secretory apparatus. These studies are of fundamental importance in understanding the transfer of information between cells. The findings from these studies are applicable to cells in the brain, as well as peripheral tissues. More importantly, however, these studies provide information on the biochemical basis by which information is transmitted between cells in the nervous system or the basis of the way the brain functions.