MOLECULAR EXCITABILITY IN THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

这是一项研究培训计划的更新，该计划现已进入第10个年头。该计划的目的是培养有前途的年轻科学家，从事心血管系统分子兴奋性的研究工作。拨款的重点是离子通道，这是心脏兴奋性的基本单位。离子通道与离子泵和离子转运体一起，产生整个心脏的协调反应。神经系统为心血管功能提供了更高程度的控制。中枢和外周(自主)神经系统都控制和协调心血管内稳态。自主神经系统的交感和副交感分支分别释放去甲肾上腺素和乙酰胆碱，以控制心脏的冲动协调和收缩能力。神经递质与细胞表面受体的相互作用引发了一连串的细胞内事件。我们的项目涵盖了几个对心脏功能很重要的主题：K+通道、钙/2+通道、转运体、细胞内钙/2+的调节、心功能的神经元调节、β-肾上腺素能受体、细胞内信号通路、药物输送以及人类心脏疾病的分子基础。实验方法包括电生理学、荧光成像、分子生物学、蛋白质生物化学、光谱学、核磁共振、X射线结晶学和低温电子显微镜/角重建。该培训计划面向4名博士后和6名博士后学员(1个零年、1个一年、2个二年、2个三年)。博士前培训为4-5年，博士后培训为2-3年。除了培训教师实验室的研究机会外，该计划还为学员提供其他丰富的活动，包括每年一次的有害研讨会，一个核心实验室，用于电生理学、荧光成像以及转基因和基因敲除动物的生产方面的“动手”培训，资助评议会议、小组讨论和期刊俱乐部。

This is a renewal of a research training program which is now in its 10th year. The purpose of this program is to training promising young scientists for research careers in molecular excitability of the cardiovascular system. The emphasis of the grant is ion channels, the fundamental units of cardiac excitability. Ion channels, in concert with ion pumps and transporters, generate a coordinated responses of the whole heart. A higher degree of control of cardiovascular function is provided by the nervous system. Both the central and the peripheral (autonomic) nervous systems control and coordinate cardiovascular homeostasis. The sympathetic and the parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system release norepinephrine and acetylcholine, respectively, to control impulse coordination and contractility in the heart. Interaction of neurotransmitters with cell surface receptors trigger a cascade of intracellular events. Our program covers several topics that are important to cardiac function: K+ channels, Ca/2+ channels, transporters, regulation of intracellular Ca/2+, neuronal regulation of cardiac function, beta-adrenergic receptors, intracellular signaling pathways, drug delivery, and the molecular basis of human cardiac diseases. The experimental approaches include electrophysiology, fluorescence imaging, molecular biology, protein biochemistry, spectroscopy, NMR, x-ray crystallography, and cryoelectron microscopy/angular reconstitution. The training program is designed for 4 predoctoral and 6 postdoctoral trainees (1 zero year, one first year, 2 second year, 2 third year). Predoctoral training is 4 to 5 years duration while postdoctoral training is for 2-3 years. In addition to the research opportunities in the laboratories of the training faculty, the program offers trainees other enrichment activities including a yearly detrimental symposium, a core laboratory for "hands-on" training in electrophysiology, fluorescence imaging, and production of transgenic and knockout animals, grant critique sessions, panel discussions and journal clubs.