U.S.-Australia Cooperative Research: Regulation of the Ryanodine-Receptor

小行星9724904 在这个美国-澳大利亚合作研究奖，博士埃斯特加兰特，兽医生物学系，明尼苏达大学和博士安吉拉F。Dulhunty，堪培拉澳大利亚国立大学约翰科廷医学研究学院将联手研究骨骼肌兴奋-收缩中兰尼碱受体的调节。骨骼肌兴奋-收缩偶联涉及两种钙通道蛋白，二氢吡啶受体和ryanodine受体的相互作用。短的二氢吡啶肽序列是体内兴奋-收缩偶联所需的，并且可以取代ryanodine受体激活中的二氢吡啶。研究人员将记录通过插入人工脂质双层膜中的ryanodine受体通道的电流，以确定1）最佳ryanodine受体功能所需的辅蛋白和配体的浓度，以及2）在这些最佳条件下二氢吡啶受体肽对ryanodine受体的激活。美国和澳大利亚的研究人员是肌肉兴奋收缩耦合领域的专家。 两人都将从不同的角度研究这项研究：Gallant教授专注于细胞和组织水平;而Dulhunty教授则拥有单通道人工双层技术的经验。 Gallant教授将利用在澳大利亚获得的新知识在明尼苏达州开发类似的仪器。 此外，该项目将为加兰特博士的研究生提供一个在澳大利亚参加研究的机会。

9724904 Gallant Under this U.S.-Australia cooperative research award, Dr. Esther Gallant, Department of Veterinary Biology, University of Minnesota, and Dr. Angela F. Dulhunty, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, will join forces to study the regulation of the ryanodine receptor in skeletal muscle excitation- contraction. Skeletal muscle excitation-contraction coupling involves the interaction of two calcium channel proteins, the dihydropyridine receptor and the ryanodine-receptor. A short dihydropyradine peptide sequence is required for in vivo excitation-contraction coupling and can substitute for the dihydropyridine in ryanodine-receptor activation. The investigators will record currents through ryanodine- receptor channels inserted in artificial lipid bilayer membranes to determine 1) concentrations of coproteins and ligands necessary for optimal ryanodine-receptor function, and 2) ryanodine-receptor activation by dihydropyridine receptor peptides under these optimal conditions. The U.S. and Australian investigators are experts in the area of excitation-contraction coupling in muscle. Both will approach the study from different perspectives: Prof. Gallant has focused at the cellular and tissue level; while Prof. Dulhunty has experience with the single-channel, artificial bilayer technique. Prof. Gallant will employ the new knowledge gained in Australia to develop a similar apparatus in Minnesota. In addition, this project will provide an opportunity for Dr. Gallant's graduate student to participate in research in Australia.