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

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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. TRAINING OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL: Over the next five years our research program will train six graduate and five undergraduate students. Our goal is to train these students to use several important research techniques and encourage them to become successful scientists in their future careers at academic institutions, drug and biotech companies, in government, and in other sectors. OVERALL IMPACT: Achieving the objectives of our research will significantly advance our basic understanding of brain cell activity and function. Our findings will impact the fields of neuroscience as well as providing a better understanding about neurotransmitters, growth factor, and ion channels at the molecular level.