Presidential Young Investigator Award

这个提议是由一个年轻的调查员提出的， 跨越了生物组织的几个层次。 的根本利益 PI是肌肉的生物学，更具体地说， 肌肉细胞内的膜系统控制收缩/舒张 肌肉的循环 在普通横纹肌中，即那些收缩的横纹肌 为了产生运动，这些膜充当储存库， 钙离子 钙离子的释放/螯合 这些肌肉细胞的膜系统调节它们的收缩。 PI正在检查这些钙机制与 由神经产生的冲动，引起收缩。 到 这样做，她采用了一种独特的肌肉细胞，发现在眼睛的肌肉， 深潜鱼类，如马林，也就是说，肌肉细胞， 不是收缩，而是产生热量。 这种“加热器组织”用于 温暖的血液进入鱼的大脑，从而保持大脑温暖 甚至当鱼潜入又深又冷的水里时。 PI目前正在研究精心制作的逆流加热 交换系统在这个加热器器官的基础上，使用生物化学和 形态学方法来研究这些细胞如何调节 钙的运动，从而产生热量。 使用一种独特的，非- 收缩肌肉系统，PI还将解决以下问题 引起了所有收缩生理学家的兴趣。

This proposal by a young investigator of unusual breadth of expertise spans several levels of biological organization. The basic interest of the PI is in the biology of muscle and, more particularly, how the membrane system within muscle cells controls the contraction/relaxation cycle of muscles. In ordinary striated muscle, ie, those that contract to produce movement, these membranes serve as storage depots for calcium ions. The release /sequestration of calcium ions in the membranous system of such muscle cells regulates their contraction. The PI is examining the coupling of these calcium mechanisms to the impulse generated by nerves which initiates the contractile event. To do so she employs a unique muscle cell found in the eye muscles of deep-diving fish such as the marlin, that is, a muscle cell that does not contract but rather produces heat. This "heater tissue" is used to warm blood on its way to the fish's brain, thus keeping the brain warm even while the fish dives in deep and cold water. The PI is currently studying the elaborate counter-current heat exchange system at the base of this heater organ, using biochemical and morphological methodologies to study how these cells regulate the movement of calcium and thereby generate heat. Using a unique, non- contracting muscle system the PI will also be addressing questions of interest to all contractile physiologists.