Mechanisms of Intercellular Communication

说明（由申请人提供）：本申请为“重点培养博士后”。其目标是：1)在间隙连接和兴奋性化学突触的分子结构和生理功能的基础研究方面提供优秀的博士后培训；2)利用几个实验室在理论基础和技术方面的协同作用和合作；3)将基础科学发现与临床问题联系起来；4)培养代表性不足的少数群体的成员。实现这些目标的策略是：1)将培训教员限制在一个小的互动小组内；2)招募和选择最优秀的学员；3)积极招募少数群体参与者；4)要求参加部门研讨会、正在进行的作品展示和期刊俱乐部；5)促进学员与不止一位导师的合作项目。培训领域将包括：1)间隙连接：通过位点定向诱变和生物物理表征进行结构-功能研究，以识别孔衬里和门控结构域，分析运输和表达调节，确定生理作用，确定由间隙连接突变引起的疾病的机制，2)兴奋性突触；结构功能、激酶调控、谷氨酸受体运输、突触前机制分析、谷氨酸受体在迟发性神经退行性变性中的作用、离子传导通道的通透性和门控性以及以毒素为例的蛋白质易位。神经科学研究继续在学院蓬勃发展，并聘请了一位新的主席和7名新的初级教员。过去和现在的学员都很有成效。学院继续积极支持研究生和研究生教育。受训人员将在一名培训人员的主要监督下进行研究，但培训教员将作为一个整体监督每个受训人员的进展。生命伦理学和适当的科学行为是课程的常规部分。受训者由参加专业协会会议的培训师，特别是神经科学协会，通过彼得森指南和神经科学部门和项目协会发布的培训项目目录中的公告，以及通过口头传播来招募。在少数民族招生方面的其他努力包括参加为少数民族学生组织的会议。我们鼓励学员探索他们工作的实验室以外的实验室，并最大限度地利用学院整体上的许多科学机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application is for "highly-focused post-doctoral training". The objectives are to: 1) Provide outstanding post-doctoral training in basic research on the molecular structure and physiological function of gap junctions and excitatory chemical synapses, 2) capitalize on the synergism and collaboration of the several laboratories in terms of theoretical underpinning and techniques employed, 3) relate basic science findings to clinical problems, and 4) train members of underrepresented minority groups. Strategies to these ends are to: 1) Restrict the training faculty to a small interactive group, 2) recruit and select top quality trainees, 3) actively recruit minority participants, 4) mandate attendance at Departmental seminars, works-in-progress presentations and journal clubs, and 5) promote collaborative projects of trainees with more than one mentor. Training areas will be: 1) Gap junctions: Structure-function studies by site directed mutagenesis and biophysical characterization to identify pore lining and gating domains, analysis of trafficking and regulation of expression, determination of physiological roles, determination of mechanism in diseases caused by gap junction mutations, 2) excitatory synapses: structure-function, regulation by kinases, and trafficking of glutamate receptors, analysis of pre-synaptic mechanisms, role of glutamate receptors in delayed neurodegeneration, 3) permeability and gating of ion-conducting channels and protein translocation, as exemplified by toxins. Research in Neuroscience continues to flourish at the College, and a new chairman and 7 new junior faculties have been recruited. Past and present trainees are very productive. The College has continued to support graduate and postgraduate education actively. The trainees will carry out research under the primary supervision of one of the trainers, but the training faculty, as a whole will monitor the progress of each trainee. Bioethics and appropriate scientific conduct are a regular part of the curriculum. Trainees are recruited by trainers attending meetings of professional societies, especially the Society for Neuroscience, by announcements in Peterson's Guide and the catalog of training programs published by the Association of Neuroscience Departments and Programs, and by word of mouth. Additional efforts at minority recruitment involve participation at meetings organized for minority students. Trainees are encouraged to explore laboratories other than the one in which they are working and to take maximum advantage of the many scientific opportunities in the College as a whole.