Molecular mechanisms and physiological consequences of growth factor receptor transactivation in the central nervous system

中枢神经系统生长因子受体反式激活的分子机制和生理后果

• 批准号: 371384-2013
• 负责人: Beazely, Michael
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=528195
• 关键词: Molecular; mechanisms; physiological; consequences; growth

Our research involves identifying how brain cells develop, survive, and communicate with each other. We study how three different types of systems interact in brain cells: 1) classical "neurotransmitters" such as serotonin and dopamine, 2) growth factors, proteins that promote brain cell growth and development, and 3) ion channels that control the electrical properties of brain cells. It used to be thought that growth factors controlled brain cell growth and survival and neurotransmitters controlled cell to cell communication. Recently it has been discovered that growth factors can also regulate brain cell communication. Another exciting discovery is that neurotransmitters such as serotonin can "transactivate" growth factor systems. In other words, serotonin can promote growth factor activity indirectly. This means that when serotonin is released in the brain, it will activate serotonin receptors but will also transactivate growth factor receptors. In order to fully understand how brain cells grow, communicate, and survive, we need to discover what contributions transactivation pathways make to overall brain function.

我们的研究包括确定脑细胞是如何发育、生存和相互交流的。我们研究了三种不同类型的系统如何在脑细胞中相互作用：1)经典的“神经递质”，如血清素和多巴胺，2)生长因子，促进脑细胞生长和发育的蛋白质，以及3)控制脑细胞电学特性的离子通道。过去人们认为生长因子控制着脑细胞的生长和存活，神经递质控制着细胞间的通讯。最近发现，生长因子还可以调节脑细胞的通讯。另一个令人兴奋的发现是，像血清素这样的神经递质可以“反激活”生长因子系统。换句话说，血清素可以间接促进生长因子的活性。这意味着当血清素在大脑中释放时，它会激活血清素受体，但也会反激活生长因子受体。为了充分了解脑细胞是如何生长、交流和生存的，我们需要发现交互激活途径对大脑整体功能的贡献。