Molecular Biology and Pharmacology of Neuromodulator Receptors

佩奇博士将研究基因结构、基因表达分布和两个基因已被克隆的生物胺受体的配体特异性。生物胺调节无脊椎动物和脊椎动物的行为是相似的。它们特别有趣，因为它们与精神分裂症、躁狂抑郁症和药物成瘾等人类神经系统疾病有关。一些昆虫由于其社会的种姓结构导致个体之间根据性别、种姓和年龄划分刻板行为库，因此为研究生物胺在行为控制中的作用提供了理想的模型系统。佩奇博士的工作将提供两种昆虫受体基因的完整分子遗传特征。这将包括在不同性别和种姓的昆虫中枢神经系统中基因表达的定位。针对每一种受体蛋白将产生抗体，用于蛋白质调节研究。最后，这些受体将在杆状病毒转染的昆虫细胞中表达，并确定每个受体的配体结合谱。这项工作将为今后描述行为控制和社会整合的遗传基础提供基础。

Dr. Page will examine the gene structure, distribution of gene expression, and ligand specificity of two biogenic amine receptors whose genes have been cloned. Biogenic amines modulate behavior similarly in both invertebrates and vertebrates. They are particularly interesting due to their implication in human neurological disorders including schizophrenia, manic depression, and drug addiction. Some insects provide an ideal model system for studying the role of biogenic amines in behavioral control due to the caste structure of their societies which results in the division of stereotypic behavioral repertoires between individuals according to sex, caste, and age. Dr. Page's work will provide a complete molecular genetic characterization of two insect receptor genes. This will include the localization of gene expression in the central nervous system in insects of each sex and caste. Antibodies will be produced for each of the receptor proteins for use in protein regulation studies. Finally, the receptors will be expressed in Baculovirus transfected insect cells and a ligand binding profile of each receptor will be determined. This work will provide the basis for future studies describing the genetic basis of behavioral control and social integration.