MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF NEURAL FUNCTION IN INVERTEBRATE MODELS

下面的摘要描述了四个项目， 在分子水平上，研究一些调控因子的作用， 分子，包括A激酶，驱动蛋白轻链，调节性 神经肽buccalin和myomodulin和rab 3蛋白，在神经系统中起作用， 功能 两种不同的无脊椎动物系统目前正在 研究了 突触可塑性的研究是 A激酶的分布和底物特异性的变化 催化亚基对细胞外 刺激的感觉神经簇的海兔Aaprisia californica。 其次，我们已经表征了buccalin的肽家族， 肌调节蛋白，试图进一步了解肽如何 这些家族共同参与突触前或突触后神经调节。 肽受体的分子特征， 转导级联被激活以影响调节，例如G 蛋白偶联受体也在积极研究中。 的 在鱿鱼Loligo pealei驱动蛋白轻链的表征， 正在进行的定义轻链的多样性，在神经 系统，并最终确定有关 细胞内运输，特别是神经元中的轴突运输， 膜结合的细胞器。 类似地，克隆小GTP-结合 正在研究蛋白质以确定RAB 3a，特别是， 在突触传递中起作用。 虽然每个项目都在研究 独立地，每个方面都直接影响到 另 例如，肌调节蛋白的作用被认为是 通过激活A激酶级联而受到影响。 也是 认为驱动蛋白的活性，包括重链和轻链， 通过磷酸化调节，其中A激酶是可能的候选者。 buccalin，myomodulin和rab 3a定位的突触小泡 通过快速轴突运输沿着轴突运输， 由驱动蛋白促进。

The following summary describes four projects that attempt to investigate, at the molecular level, the roles a number of regulatory molecules, including, A kinase, kinesin light chains, the modulatory neuropeptides buccalin and myomodulin and rab 3 proteins, play in neural function. Two different invertebrate systems are currently being studied. Synaptic plasticity is being studied as a consequence of changes in the distribution and substrate specificity of A kinase catalytic subunits in response to the application of extracellular stimuli to sensory neural clusters in the sea hare Aplysia californica. Secondly, we have characterized the peptide families of buccalin and myomodulin in an attempt to gain further insights as to how peptide families collectively contribute to pre- or postsynaptic neuromodulation. The molecular characterization of peptide receptors through which signal transduction cascades are activated to affect modulation, for example G protein coupled receptors, is also being actively pursued. The characterization of kinesin light chains in the squid Loligo pealei, is being undertaken to define the diversity of light chains in the nervous system and ultimately to determine function and specificity with regard to intracellular transport, particularly axonal transport in neurons, of membrane-bound organelles. Similarly, cloning of the small GTP-binding proteins is being pursued to determine the role rab 3a, in particular, plays in synaptic transmission. Although each project is being studied independently, there are aspects of each that directly impinge on another. For example, the effects of myomodulin are believed to be affected through the activation of the A kinase cascades. It is also believed that the activity of kinesin, both heavy and light chains, are regulated via phosphorylation in which A kinase is a likely candidate. The synaptic vesicles that buccalin, myomodulin and rab 3a localize to are carried along the axon via fast axonal transport, a mechanism thought to be facilitated by kinesin.