Signal Transduction in the Vomeronasal Sensory Neuron

描述（申请人提供）：犁鼻器官（VNO）是一个特殊的结构，涉及调节同种动物之间的行为和内分泌变化。与主要嗅觉系统不同的是，在主要嗅觉系统中，用于检测气味分子的信号转导级联已经知道了一段时间，而VNO所使用的信号转导级联在很大程度上仍然是模糊的；尽管很明显，它与嗅觉系统使用的不同。本研究的目的是了解VNO信号的细胞内机制。已经确定了一些关键因素，这些因素已被提出在信号转导过程中发挥作用。这包括离子通道TRPC2 β，它是瞬时受体电位（TRP）离子通道家族的一员，定位于vsn的微绒毛，信号转导被认为发生在微绒毛上。此外，受体介导的磷脂酶C （PLC）的g蛋白活化参与了VSN对尿液的反应。本研究将探讨PLC在VSN信号转导中的作用和TRPC2 β激活的机制。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Vomeronasal Organ (VNO) is a specialized structure implicated in regulating behaviors and endocrine changes between conspecifics. Unlike the main olfactory system, where the signal transduction cascade employed in detecting odorant molecules has been known for some time, that employed by the VNO remains largely obscure; although it is clear that it is different than that used by the olfactory system. The objective of this study is to understand the intracellular mechanism by which the VNO signals. A number of key elements have been identified that have been proposed to play a role in the signal transduction progress. This includes the ion channel TRPC2 beta, a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of ion channels, which is localized to the microvilli of VSNs, where signal transduction is thought to occur. Also, receptor mediated G-protein activation of phospholipase C (PLC) is involved in VSN responses to urine. This study will examine the role of PLC and the mechanism of TRPC2 beta activation in VSN signal transduction.