Visualizing endogenous ion channel activation

这个项目的扩展目标是开发新的手段来可视化激活 内源性电压门控离子通道（VGIC）。难以确定何时和 特定的VGIC参与电信号限制了我们的基本 神经元回路的理解，并阻碍了治疗方法的发现。小说 用于成像VGIC亚型活性的工具能够对通道进行荧光成像， 参与生理和病理生理信号传导。技术看 激活特定离子通道可以帮助验证药物靶点， 疾病，包括慢性瘙痒和神经性疼痛。神经元表现出巨大的 其电信号的多样性，VGIC的不同集合的结果 不同的细胞了解单个VGIC亚型如何有助于电 信令仍然是一个重大的挑战。我们建议开发离子通道活性 用于监测神经元中VGIC活性的探针。我们正在开发的这项技术， 原则上可用于靶向VGIC的任何亚型。

The expansive goal of this project is to develop new means to visualize the activation of endogenous voltage gated ion channels (VGICs). Difficulties in identifying when and where specific VGICs become involved in electrical signals limit our fundamental understanding of neuronal circuits and impede the discovery of therapeutics. Novel tools to image the activity of VGIC subtypes enable fluorescence imaging of channel participation in physiological and pathophysiological signaling. Technology to see specific ion channels activate could aid in validation of drug targets for a host of maladies, including chronic itch and neuropathic pain. Neurons exhibit tremendous diversity in their electrical signaling, a consequence of the distinct collections of VGICs different cells. Understanding how individual VGIC subtypes contribute to electrical signaling remains a significant challenge. We propose to develop ion channel activity probes to monitor activity of VGICs in neurons. This technology we are developing can, in principle, be used to target any subtype of VGIC.