Fine tuning the nicotinic receptor response via the lipid bilayer

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other at connections called synapses. At a synapse, small chemical neurotransmitters are released from the pres-synaptic terminus of one nerve cell to interact with receptors located in the post-synaptic membrane of another nerve cell. Upon binding to a receptor, the neurotransmitter elicits a structural change that leads to alteration of the environment inside the post-synaptic nerve cell. This change in intracellular environment usually leads to either the firing or the inhibition of firing in the post-synaptic nerve. ***Synapses are at the heart of complex neurological processes. For example, synapses can be strengthened to improve memory. On the other hand, altered synaptic transmission can lead to a variety of neurological disorders. Understanding how synapses are modulated is thus fundamental to understanding the human brain.****My lab is interested in the neurotransmitter receptors, called ligand-gated ion channels, that are located in post-synaptic membranes. The activities of these ligand-gated ion channels can be modulated by a variety of factors, including external compounds such as nicotine. We are interested in understanding how the lipids in the surrounding membrane influence function. Using a model system, we will characterize the lipids found in this environment and then test how these lipids influence ligand-gated ion channel function. Using sophisticated molecular biology, electrophysiology, and crystallography tools, we will test proposed mechanisms by which lipids alter function. The overarching goal is to understand the role of lipids modulating ligand-gated ion channel function under both normal and abnormal neurological conditions. This fundamental research will provide a basis to help understand complex neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease, etc. ***************