Signal Transduction in the Vomeronasal Sensory Neuron

描述(申请人提供)：犁鼻器(VNO)是一种特殊的结构，涉及调节同种异体之间的行为和内分泌变化。与主要的嗅觉系统不同，在主嗅觉系统中，用来检测气味分子的信号转导级联已经知道一段时间了，而VNO使用的信号转导系统在很大程度上仍然鲜为人知；尽管很明显，它与嗅觉系统使用的不同。本研究的目的是了解VNO信号的细胞内机制。已经确定了一些在信号转导过程中发挥作用的关键元件。这包括离子通道TRPC2β，它是瞬时受体电位(Trp)离子通道家族的成员，定位于VSNs的微绒毛，被认为是发生信号转导的地方。此外，受体介导的磷脂酶C(PLC)G蛋白激活参与了VSN对尿液的反应。本研究将探讨PLC在VSN信号转导中的作用及TRPC2β激活的机制。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Vomeronasal Organ (VNO) is a specialized structure implicated in regulating behaviors and endocrine changes between conspecifics. Unlike the main olfactory system, where the signal transduction cascade employed in detecting odorant molecules has been known for some time, that employed by the VNO remains largely obscure; although it is clear that it is different than that used by the olfactory system. The objective of this study is to understand the intracellular mechanism by which the VNO signals. A number of key elements have been identified that have been proposed to play a role in the signal transduction progress. This includes the ion channel TRPC2 beta, a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of ion channels, which is localized to the microvilli of VSNs, where signal transduction is thought to occur. Also, receptor mediated G-protein activation of phospholipase C (PLC) is involved in VSN responses to urine. This study will examine the role of PLC and the mechanism of TRPC2 beta activation in VSN signal transduction.