The Molecular Mechanism Of Ion-coupled Transport In The Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$441,407.00
Summary
Cells in the brain communicate through chemical signals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitter transporters reside in the membranes of cells and are responsible for regulating levels of these chemicals in the brain. They play an important role in the normal function of the human brain but their dysfunction is responsible for many diseases including Alzheimer's disease and motor neuron disease. It is crucial to understand how these proteins work in both normal and disease states.
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors: Pharmacological Studies Of Receptor Subtypes In Neuronal Injury.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$145,770.00
Summary
Glutamate is the major transmitter of excitatory information in the mammalian brain. Disruption of glutamate-mediated signaling between brain cells results in high extracellular levels of glutamate which is toxic to neurones. A recently discovered family of signal transducers, the metabotropic glutamate receptors, has been found to be localized on neurones and is switched on by these toxic glutamate levels. The roles of these metabotropic glutamate receptors in neurotoxicity is essentially unexp ....Glutamate is the major transmitter of excitatory information in the mammalian brain. Disruption of glutamate-mediated signaling between brain cells results in high extracellular levels of glutamate which is toxic to neurones. A recently discovered family of signal transducers, the metabotropic glutamate receptors, has been found to be localized on neurones and is switched on by these toxic glutamate levels. The roles of these metabotropic glutamate receptors in neurotoxicity is essentially unexplored and is the topic under investigation in this project. How their activation affects cellular signaling switch on will be investigated to gain an understanding of the roles metabotropic glutamate receptors play in acute brain injury (eg stroke) and chronic neurodegenerative conditions (eg Huntington's chorea and Alzheimer's disease).Read moreRead less