MOLECULAR STRUCTURE-FUNCTION RELATIONSHIPS OF THE NORADRENALINE TRANSPORTER & DRUG ACTION

Funded Activity Summary

The transmission of impulses by nerves is dependent on the release of chemicals, termed neurotransmitters, from the nerve. The neurotransmitter causes its effects and then its action is usually terminated by membrane proteins that transport the chemical back into the nerve. These proteins are termed 'transporters'. In the brain, psychostimulants such as cocaine and also drugs that are used in the therapy of conditions such as depression block the activity of the transporters for the neurotransmitters, noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine. Recently, the structures of the transporter proteins have been determined using molecular biology techniques. The focus of this project is to determine the parts of the noradrenaline transporter protein structure that are important in determining its functions, utilising the knowledge that we now have about its molecular structure. This will lead to exciting advances in understanding the function of the noradrenaline transporter and these advances should ultimately lead to the development of more effective antidepressant drugs and of drugs to prevent the effects of psychostimulants such as cocaine.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2000

End Date: 01-01-2002

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $188,912.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Medical biochemistry - carbohydrates

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Antidepressants | Cocaine | Cocaine antagonists | Depression | Noradrenaline | Noradrenaline transporter | Schizophrenia | Site-directed mutagenesis

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