Analysis of asymmetric distribution of neurotransmitter transporters and their function in Drosophila glial cells

近年来，越来越明显的是，神经元回路的发育和功能强烈依赖于神经元和胶质细胞之间的密切相互作用。虽然还没有证明神经胶质细胞直接处理信息，但它们对支持和调节神经元信号是必不可少的。胶质细胞的一个重要功能是在释放后迅速清除突触间隙中的神经递质，从而允许随后的突触信号传递，并防止神经元过度激活的有害影响。神经递质通过特殊的神经递质转运蛋白进入神经胶质细胞。为了促进神经递质的摄取和清除，神经胶质细胞突起与突触密切接触，此外，神经递质转运体分子被特异性地招募到突触接触过程中。胶质细胞如何建立和维持转运蛋白分子的极化定位到突触尚不清楚。在这里，我建议以果蝇为模式生物，分析不对称神经递质转运蛋白募集到突触的机制。这些分析将使人们对突触上的神经元-胶质细胞相互作用以及这些相互作用如何影响神经元的信息处理有更深的理解。

In recent years it has become more and more obvious that the development and function of neuronal circuits is strongly dependent on intimate interactions of neurons and glia cells. While it has not yet been demonstrated that glia directly process information, they are essential to both support and modulate neuronal signaling. One important function of glia is to rapidly clear neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft after release, thereby allowing subsequent synaptic signaling and preventing detrimental effects of neuronal over activation. Neurotransmitters are imported into the glia cell via specialized neurotransmitter transporter proteins. To facilitate neurotransmitter uptake and clearance, glial cell protrusions are intensively contacting synapses and additionally neurotransmitter transporter molecules are specifically recruited to synapse-contacting processes. How glial cells establish and maintain the polarized localization of transporter molecules to synapses remains unclear.Here I propose to analyze the mechanisms of asymmetric neurotransmitter transporter recruitment to synapses using Drosophila as a model organism. These analyses will yield deeper understandings of neuron-glia interactions at synapses and how these can influence neuronal information processing.