Neuropeptide Analysis using Multidimensional Separation and Detection Methodology

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Urbana-Champaign This project, directed by Assistant Professor Jonathan V. Sweedler of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, is focused on identifying and quantitatively measuring neuronal releasates and assaying the contents of individual peptide vesicles. Support is provided by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry and by Neuroendocrinology in the Division of Integrative Biology and Neuroscience. The work will develop new wavelength resolved fluorescence detection methods for microseparations that allow neuropeptides and classical neurotransmitters to be identified and quantitatively measured without the need for chemical derivitization, provide methods to assay the contents of individual peptidergic vesicles, and develop a separation approach which allows the time course of peptide release to be followed. These measurements are all concerned with the dynamics of cellular communication and the studies are designed to lead to improved understanding of the nervous system. The bag cell neurons of the marine mollusk, Aplysia Californica, will serve as a model system. An understanding of the chemical pathways involved in the transmission of a nerve impulse is essential to our gaining full knowledge of how the nervous system functions. This work will explore such pathways by developing the measurement techniques needed to follow peptide neurotransmitters which are typically present in very low concentrations and which are found in the presence of many other biological compounds.