The Dynamics Of Gradient Sensing By Growth Cones: Timelapse Imaging And Mathematical Modelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,305.00
Summary
Problems in the wiring up of the brain underlie several nervous system disorders. The goal of this project is to understand better how this wiring normally forms. This will ultimately lead to a better understanding of what can go wrong with brain wiring, and how to fix such problems. It will also lead to a better understanding of how to make axons regenerate after injury. Our approach is to use a combination of timelapse imaging of neurons in culture, and mathematical modelling, to understand ho ....Problems in the wiring up of the brain underlie several nervous system disorders. The goal of this project is to understand better how this wiring normally forms. This will ultimately lead to a better understanding of what can go wrong with brain wiring, and how to fix such problems. It will also lead to a better understanding of how to make axons regenerate after injury. Our approach is to use a combination of timelapse imaging of neurons in culture, and mathematical modelling, to understand how the tips of the wires growing between neurons sense their environment. By comparing our experimental measurements with our theoretical results we will arrive at a detailed and accurate model of this sensing process. This will allow us to make predictions about how these developmental events normally occur in vivo, and what can go wrong.Read moreRead less
Theoretical Studies On The Dynamics Of Ion Permeation Across Membrane Channels
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$381,000.00
Summary
All electrical activities in the brain are regulated by opening and closing of ion channels. Thus, understanding their mechanisms at a molecular level is a fundamental problem in biology. There are many different types of ion channels, each type fulfilling a different role. We now know the exact atomic structures of several types of the proteins forming ion channels. Using this newly unveiled information, we propose to build exact physical models of many different types of ion channels. Then, ma ....All electrical activities in the brain are regulated by opening and closing of ion channels. Thus, understanding their mechanisms at a molecular level is a fundamental problem in biology. There are many different types of ion channels, each type fulfilling a different role. We now know the exact atomic structures of several types of the proteins forming ion channels. Using this newly unveiled information, we propose to build exact physical models of many different types of ion channels. Then, making use of powerful supercomputers, we propose to follow the motion of ions as they move through the channel, study how a channel can select only the correct type of ions to traverse it and determine how many ions a single channel is capable of processing per second. The predictions made by our theory and computer simulations will be checked experimentally. Once we fully understand how these channels work, we will be able to understand the causes of, and possibly find the cures for, many neurological, muscular and renal disorders.Read moreRead less