Role of eag K+ Channels in Cortical Function

0078297 Bernardo动作电位是动物界神经系统的普遍信号。 动作电位在神经系统的不同部分和不同动物之间非常相似。 相反，信息被编码在一系列动作电位的时间模式中。 几个因素有助于产生这些模式，其中携带钾（K*）离子（K* 通道）的离子通道的多样性是塑造神经信号的主要贡献者之一。 最近通过遗传分析发现了大量新的K* 通道，随着几种动物基因组的全序列被发现，这可能会增加。 未来研究的主要任务是了解这些基因的生理作用。 该项目将研究一个新的K* 通道基因，称为K12，在申请人的实验室中鉴定和克隆。 已经将Eag基因引入到模型细胞中，在那里它们导致形成特性。 我们的任务是确定它们在大脑中的天然环境中是否具有相同的特性。为了发现Eag通道的功能作用，我们设计了实验来探索哪些脑细胞通常表达这些基因的产物。 电生理学技术然后被用来研究它们在天然细胞中的特性，以及它们在塑造神经元信号中的作用。 初步研究表明，Eag基因在大脑皮层的神经元中特异性表达，这些神经元是感觉信息的主要接受者。 该项目将测试Eag通道在调节感觉信息是否进入大脑皮层并因此确定意识状态方面具有关键功能的假设。 这项研究将揭示新的K* 通道基因的功能，并促进我们对大脑处理机制的理解，以发现新发现的基因的作用。

0078297BernardoThe action potential is the universal signal in the nervous system throughout the animal kingdom. Action potentials are very similar in different parts of the nervous system and between different animals. Information is instead encoded in the temporal pattern of series of action potentials. Several factors contribute to generating these patterns, among these the diversity of ion channels carrying, potassium (K*) ions (K* channels) is one of the main contributors to shaping neural signals. A large number of new K* channels have been discovered recently through genetic analysis, and this is likely to increase as the full sequence of the genomes of several animals becomes known. A major task of future research is to understand the physiological roles of these genes. This project will study a new K*channel gene, known as Eag2, identified and cloned in the applicant's laboratory. Eag genes have been introduced into model cells, where they result in the formation properties. The task is to determine if they have the same properties in their native environment in the brain.To discover the functional roles of Eag channels, experiments are design to explore which brain cells normally express the products of these genes. Electrophysiological techniques are then used to study their properties in native cells, and their role in shaping neuronal signals. Preliminary studies suggest that Eag genes are specifically expressed in neurons in the cerebral cortex that are the main recipients of sensory information. This project will test the hypothesis that Eag channels have crucial functions in regulating whether or not sensory information enters the cerebral cortex and hence in determining states of consciousness. This study will unravel the function of novel K* channel genes and advance our understanding of the mechanisms by which the brain processes application in discovering the roles of the newly found genes.