Functional roles of electrical synapses formed by neuronal gap junctions

神经元间隙连接形成的电突触的功能作用

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-03861
• 负责人: Nagy, James
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: University of Manitoba
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=630716
• 关键词: Functional; roles; electrical; synapses; formed

Gap junctions are aggregates of intercellular communication channels formed by connexin proteins that have essential roles in cells throughout the body. When gap junctions occur between neurons, they create electrical synapses that mediate direct electrical communication between neurons. Nagy’s group and others have revealed both the prevalence and importance of electrical synapses in many regions of mammalian brain and spinal cord. His research program is centered on two long-term objectives: i) deciphering the structural and regulatory protein components of electrical synapses; and ii) gaining knowledge of the functional roles of these synapses in neuronal circuitry. Proposed work on the latter objective aims to provide basic understanding of the occurrence and requirements for electrical synapses in three different neuronal systems each of which govern fundamentally important physiological processes. They hypothesize that electrical synapses confer novel functional properties and contribute essential synchronizing mechanisms that are key to neuronal activity in each of these systems and the functions these systems subserve.

间隙连接是由连接蛋白形成的细胞间通讯通道的聚集体，连接蛋白在整个身体的细胞中具有重要作用。当神经元之间发生缝隙连接时，它们产生电突触，介导神经元之间的直接电通信。纳吉的研究小组和其他人已经揭示了电突触在哺乳动物大脑和脊髓的许多区域中的普遍性和重要性。他的研究计划集中在两个长期目标：i）破译电突触的结构和调节蛋白质成分; ii）获得这些突触在神经元电路中的功能作用的知识。后一个目标的拟议工作的目的是提供基本的了解电突触的发生和要求在三个不同的神经元系统，其中每一个从根本上管理重要的生理过程。他们假设，电突触赋予新的功能特性，并有助于基本的同步机制，这是关键的神经元活动在这些系统中的每一个和这些系统的功能subserve。