Peptidergic Modulation of NMDA-Receptor Mediated Neurotransmission

突触控制神经系统的信息处理，突触功能障碍与 患有多种神经系统疾病和神经退行性疾病。在所有神经系统中，谷氨酸是 主要的兴奋性神经递质，用于激活神经元。本研究的目标是提供重要的、 对谷氨酸能突触功能的新的机械学见解，这将有助于我们对 大脑对信息的处理为药物疗法的发展提供了新的途径 治疗神经系统疾病。使用基于模式生物C。 ，我们将研究通过G蛋白偶联受体传递信号的多肽配体如何调节突触 由NMDA型离子谷氨酸受体(NMDARs)介导的功能。突触NMDAR参与 多种精神和神经疾病的病理生理学。我们提出了一种综合的 多学科方法，结合体内电生理分析，行为研究和 光遗传学研究特定神经肽调节NMDAR介导的作用机制 突触信号。这些研究对更深入地了解神经系统有着特别的希望。 可塑性，以及学习和记忆等行为。我们的研究将揭示出新的发展目标 神经系统功能障碍的新药和新的治疗策略。

Synapses control information processing by the nervous system, and dysfunction of synapses is associated with many neurological diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. In all nervous systems, glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter used to activate neurons. The goals of this study are to provide important, new mechanistic insights into the function of glutamatergic synapses, which will aid in our understanding of information processing by the brain and provide new avenues for the development of pharmaceutical therapies for nervous system disorders. Using a genetic platform based on the nervous system of the model organism C. elegans, we will study how peptide ligands, which signal via G-protein coupled receptors, regulate synaptic function mediated by NMDA-type ionotropic glutamate receptors (NMDARs). Synaptic NMDARs are involved in the pathophysiology of numerous psychiatric and neurological disorders. We propose an integrated multidisciplinary approach that combines in vivo electrophysiological analysis, behavioral studies and optogenetic to study the mechanism of action by which specific neuropeptides regulate NMDAR-mediated synaptic signaling. These studies have particular promise for a deeper understanding of nervous system plasticity, and behaviors such as learning and memory. Our studies will reveal new targets for the development of new drugs and novel therapeutic strategies for disorders of nervous system function.