Regulation of Osmolyte Channel in Fish Erythrocytes:Membrane Trafficking and Cell Signaling

细胞体积的调节是一个重要的生理过程。为了抵抗由细胞外液的稀释引起的细胞体积变化，细胞增加盐和氨基酸在细胞膜表面的损失。在红细胞中，skAE1蛋白质负责增加氨基酸损失。它在细胞肿胀时插入膜中，然后在恢复正常体积时从膜中取出。 将采用功能和分子方法，以了解该蛋白质被移入质膜并随后被取回的过程。此外，还将确定调节skAE 1运动的生化信号机制。研究还将揭示skAE1一旦被回收是否会降解，或者当细胞反复肿胀时是否可以回收回细胞膜。所有细胞都可以经历体积变化，这些研究将提供有关正常细胞体积恢复所涉及的分子和调节机制的基本信息。研究生和本科生将是研究团队的一个组成部分。本科研究人员将从布朗大学和山沙漠岛生物实验室，吸引来自全国各地的学生招募。此外，该研究项目将为来自缅因州农村和普罗维登斯地区的高中生提供研究经验。

Regulation of cell volume is an important physiological process. In order to resist cell volume changes resulting from a dilution of the extracellular fluid, cells increase salt and amino acid loss across the surface of the cell membrane. In the skate red blood cell the protein, skAE1, is responsible for the increase in amino acid loss. It is inserted into the membrane upon cell swelling and then removed from the membrane when normal volume has been restored. Functional and molecular approaches will be employed in order to understand the processes by which this protein is moved into the plasma membrane and subsequently retrieved. In addition, the biochemical signaling mechanisms that regulate skAE1''s movement will be determined. Studies will also reveal if skAE1 is degraded once it is retrieved or if can be recycled back into the membrane when the cells are swollen repeatedly. All cells can experience volume changes and these studies will provide fundamental information regarding the molecular and regulatory mechanisms involved in the recovery of normal cell volume. Graduate and undergraduate students will be an integral part of the research team. Undergraduate researchers will be recruited from Brown University and the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, which draws students from across the country. In addition, this research project will provide research experience for high school students from rural Maine and the Providence area.