MOLECULAR EXCITABILITY IN THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

这是一项研究培训计划的更新，目前已进入第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事业。该基金的重点是离子通道，心脏兴奋性的基本单位。离子通道与离子泵和转运蛋白协同作用，产生整个心脏的协调反应。神经系统对心血管功能的控制程度更高。中枢和外周（自主）神经系统控制和协调心血管稳态。自主神经系统的交感神经和副交感神经分支分别释放去甲肾上腺素和乙酰胆碱，以控制心脏中的冲动协调和收缩性。神经递质与细胞表面受体的相互作用触发细胞内事件的级联。我们的计划涵盖了对心脏功能很重要的几个主题：K+通道，Ca/2+通道，转运蛋白，细胞内Ca/2+的调节，心脏功能的神经元调节，β-肾上腺素能受体，细胞内信号传导途径，药物递送和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、NMR、X射线晶体学和冷冻电子显微镜/角度重建。该培训计划是专为4名博士前和6名博士后学员（1零年，一个第一年，2第二年，2第三年）。博士前培训为4 - 5年，博士后培训为2-3年。除了在培训教师的实验室的研究机会，该计划为学员提供其他丰富的活动，包括每年的有害研讨会，一个核心实验室的“动手”培训电生理学，荧光成像，转基因和基因敲除动物的生产，赠款批判会议，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.