Mechanisms Underlying the Balance of Synaptic Complex Assembly and Disassembly

大脑是一个极其复杂的器官。如果神经元不与它们的伴侣交谈，大脑就不能发挥作用。大脑是如何实现正确交流的呢？一种方法是调节神经元使用的信号蛋白的数量。这项拟议的研究的目的是了解大脑是如何执行这一过程的。费尔斯坦博士克隆了一种名为cypin的蛋白质，该蛋白质负责确保神经元通讯部位的蛋白质含量正确。拟议的研究将首先通过分析cypin的部分并确定哪些区域负责cypin功能来研究cypin如何执行这一功能。其次，费尔斯坦博士将分析为什么Cypin能比其他蛋白质更好地调节某些蛋白质的定位。最后，费尔斯坦博士将确定当神经元中的cypin水平升高时会发生什么。这些研究的结果将增加我们对大脑发育基本机制的理解。此外，这些实验的表现将是培训本科生和研究生神经科学尖端技术的计划的一部分。两名博士生和两名本科生将参与执行拟议的实验，其中一名博士生是代表性较低的少数民族。此外，费尔斯坦博士还将开发一个高级神经生物学实验室，为本科生在罗格斯大学的实验室做准备。综上所述，拟议的项目将帮助我们了解大脑是如何进行交流的，同时为学生提供开展板凳科学的机会。

The brain is an incredibly complex organ. If neurons do not talk to their partners, the brain does not function. How does the brain manage to allow the correct communication to occur? One way is to regulate the amount of signaling proteins that are used by the neurons. The purpose of the proposed research is to understand how the brain performs this process. Dr. Firestein has cloned a protein called cypin which is involved in making sure that there is a correct amount of proteins at sites where neurons communicate. The proposed studies will first investigate how cypin performs this function by analyzing portions of cypin and determining which regions are responsible for cypin function. Second, Dr. Firestein will analyze why cypin regulates the localization of some proteins better than others. Finally, Dr. Firestein will determine what happens when cypin levels are increased in neurons. The results of these studies will increase our understanding of basic mechanisms that underlie brain development. In addition, the performance of these experiments will be part of a program to train undergraduate and graduate students in cutting edge-techniques in neuroscience. Two doctoral students, one of whom is an underrepresented minority, and two undergraduate students, will be involved in performing the experiments proposed. In addition, Dr. Firestein will be developing an Advanced Neurobiology Laboratory to prepare undergraduate students for bench work in laboratories at Rutgers University. Taken together, the proposed project will help us to understand how the brain is wired for communication, at the same time providing opportunities for students to conduct bench science.