POWRE: Neurotransmitter Specification & Function in C. elegans

POWRE：神经递质规范

• 批准号: 9973581
• 负责人: Christine Li
• 金额: $ 7.46万
• 依托单位: Trustees of Boston University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1999
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1999-09-01 至 2002-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9973581&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: POWRE; Neurotransmitter; Specification; & Function

Christine LiNSF 9973581Lay AbstractDr. Christine Li is interested in how nerve cells in one region of the nervous system communicate with nerve cells in a different region. Nerve cells use chemicals, called neurotransmitters, as their means of communication; one nerve cell secretes a neurotransmitter that is received by another nerve cell, causing the latter cell to respond in a specific manner. The regulation of neurotransmitters is finely modulated within the nervous system. Too little or too much of a neurotransmitter can have severe repercussions on the behavior of an animal, such as uncoordination or cognitive disorders. Dr. Li is examining the regulation of neurotransmitters in a simple model system, the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, where the simplicity of the nervous system and the ability to manipulate the animal genetically allows use of approaches not readily available in other systems, such as mammals. She is focusing on a certain class of neurotransmitters called neuropeptides, which are small proteins. Over 100 distinct neuropeptides are present in C. elegans; these peptides can be subgrouped into families based on their structural similarities. Dr. Li is studying a specific family of neuropeptides called FaRPs. About 50% of the nerve cells in C. elegans use FaRPs for communication between cells. The questions that the laboratory is addressing include determining the functions of different FaRPs, determining why only certain cells use FaRPs for communication, determining whether one FaRP can substitute functionally for another FaRP, and determining how a FaRP secreted from one nerve cell can cause a certain response in a second nerve cell. Insights into how neuropeptides function in C. elegans may give clues into how neuropeptides are used in higher animals, such as man.

克莉丝汀LiNSF 9973581莱摘要博士。克莉丝汀李感兴趣的是神经系统一个区域的神经细胞如何与不同区域的神经细胞进行交流。 神经细胞使用称为神经递质的化学物质作为它们的通信手段;一个神经细胞分泌一种神经递质，该神经递质被另一个神经细胞接收，导致后者以特定的方式做出反应。 神经递质的调节在神经系统内被精细地调节。 太少或太多的神经递质会对动物的行为产生严重的影响，例如不协调或认知障碍。 李博士正在研究一个简单的模型系统（秀丽隐杆线虫）中神经递质的调节，其中神经系统的简单性和从基因上操纵动物的能力允许使用其他系统（例如哺乳动物）中不容易使用的方法。 她专注于一类称为神经肽的神经递质，这是一种小蛋白质。 在C.这些肽可以基于它们的结构相似性被亚组为家族。 李博士正在研究一种名为FaRPs的神经肽家族。 C.秀丽线虫使用FaRPs进行细胞间的通讯。 实验室正在解决的问题包括确定不同FaRP的功能，确定为什么只有某些细胞使用FaRP进行通信，确定一种FaRP是否可以在功能上取代另一种FaRP，以及确定从一个神经细胞分泌的FaRP如何在第二个神经细胞中引起某种反应。 深入了解神经肽在C.秀丽隐杆线虫可能会提供线索，让我们了解神经肽在高等动物（如人类）中的作用。