MECHANISMS OF SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION IN SENSORY RECEPTORS

感觉感受器由特殊的细胞或神经末梢组成。 它将特定的刺激转换成神经编码的消息。这个 感官感受器是本计划项目拨款的重点 (即斑马鱼嗅觉感受器、动脉化学感受器 颈动脉小体和皮肤的默克尔细胞机械感受器)包括 两个“简单”感受器，初级传入神经元兴奋的地方 直接通过感官刺激和“复合”受体，其中 特化的前神经细胞对刺激传导很重要。 介导感觉转导的细胞机制包括第二 信使通路和其他常用的细胞元件 细胞处理不同的生物信号。的集体目标 建议的研究是对信号中的基本要素进行分析 各种感官感受器共有的转导通路，如 以及对特定特定的监管功能的说明 受体系统。在这项努力中，一个多学科和 合作研究计划将促进思想交流 和数据，并将支持选民的相互进步 项目。第一个项目将使用生物物理和荧光比率 影像技术研究性取向的机制基础 斑马鱼嗅觉器官敏感度的差异。这个 第二个项目将研究动脉中的信号通路。 哺乳动物颈动脉小体的化学感受器， 神经化学和免疫细胞化学方法探讨二次 信使级联，以及蛋白质磷酸化在细胞周期中的作用 化学感觉刺激的转导和调制。最后，使用 相似的实验方法和体外皮肤/神经 准备工作。第三个项目将研究通过哪些机制 创业Merkel细胞调节I型传入冲动的产生 感觉神经元。

Sensory receptors are composed of specialized cells or nerve endings which transduce specific stimuli into neurally encoded messages. The sensory receptors that are the focus of this Program Project Grant (i.e., zebrafish olfactory receptors, arterial chemoreceptors of the carotid body, and Merkel cell mechanoreceptors of the skin) include both "simple" receptors, where the primary afferent neuron is excited directly by the sesory stimulus, and "composite" receptors, in which specialized pre-neural cells are important for stimulus transduction. Cellular machinery mediating sensory transduction includes second messenger pathways and other cellular elements commonly utilized by cells to process diverse biological signals. The collective objective of the proposed research is the analysis of essential elements in signal transduction pathways common to a variety of sensory receptors, as well as an elucidation of those regulatory features unique to specific receptor systems. In this endeavor, a multidisciplinary and collaborative research program will facilitate the exchange of ideas and data, and will support the mutual progress of the constituent projects. The first project will use biophysical and fluorencence ratio imaging techniques to study the mechanistic basic of sex-based differences in the sensitivity of the olfactory organ of zebrafish. The second project will investigate signaling pathways in the arterial chemoreceptors of the mammalian carotid body using biophysical, neurochemical and immunocytochemical methods to explore second messenger cascades, and the role of protein phosphorylation in the transduction and modulation of chemosensory stimuli. Finally, using similar experimental approaches and an in vitro skin/nerve preparation. The third project will examine the mechanisms by which preneural Merkel cells modulate afferent impulse generation in type I sensory neurons.