Novel modes of signalling of serotonin 5-HT2c receptors.

该项目的重点是一个特殊的受体蛋白质家族，它介导了人类大脑中神经化学物质5-羟色胺（5-HT）的作用。这些5-羟色胺受体是抗抑郁和抗精神病药物的主要靶点，也在焦虑、偏头痛和食欲控制中发挥作用。尽管血清素受体在健康和疾病中发挥着重要作用，但许多药物作用于这些受体的作用机制仍然未知。我们的项目将专门研究与5-羟色胺受体活性相关的新分子机制，这可能对理解精神疾病的机制至关重要，以及有多少精神药物实际上起作用。

This project focuses on a special family of receptor proteins that mediate the actions of the neurochemical, serotonin (5HT), in the human brain. These serotonin receptors are major targets for antidepressant and antipsychotic medications, and also play a role in anxiety, migraine and control of appetite. Despite the important role of serotonin receptors in health and disease, the mechanism of action of many drugs acting on these receptors remains unknown. Our project will specifically investigate novel molecular mechanisms associated with serotonin receptor activity that may prove vital in understanding mechanisms of psychiatric illnesses, and how many psychiatric medicines actually work.