I am a biochemist-pharmacologist determining how neurotransmitter transporters work, which will aid in the development in novel therapies for disorders of the nervous system
Creating A Phenotypic Catalogue Of Synaptic Vesicle Cycling Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$876,975.00
Summary
Developmental disorders affect 2-5% of children. In order to understand how these mutations will likely affect neurological function in these individuals, and to develop a tailored care and treatment program, we must first understand how these mutations affect neuronal communication. This research program will identify the underlying cause of neurological dysfunction in a subset of these disorders (synaptic vesicle cycle disorders), affecting 1200-3000 children in Australia alone.
The normal functioning of many organs is controlled by several types of nerves through releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters. A new type of nerve has been identified recently; these are called nitrergic nerves. They release a nitric oxide-like transmitter to control the relaxation of smooth muscle. Although it is known that nitrergic nerves play important roles in the regulation of functions of various organs, the nature of its transmitter has not been elucidated. Our recent study suggest ....The normal functioning of many organs is controlled by several types of nerves through releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters. A new type of nerve has been identified recently; these are called nitrergic nerves. They release a nitric oxide-like transmitter to control the relaxation of smooth muscle. Although it is known that nitrergic nerves play important roles in the regulation of functions of various organs, the nature of its transmitter has not been elucidated. Our recent study suggests that the nitrergic transmitter is more close to a redox form of nitric oxide such as nitroxyl anion than to nitric oxide itself. This project will investigate further the mechanism of nitrergic transmission including the nature of the nitrergic transmitter. The proposed research will help to answer important questions regarding the mechanisms of nitrergic transmission and thus may throw additional light to the nature of the nitrergic transmitter. The findings may also be significant for the development of new drugs (such as new NO donors) which interact with nitrergic mechanisms.Read moreRead less