Award details

Dentritic and synaptic targeting of mRNAs for the AMPA-type glutamate receptor subunits in hippocampal pyramidal cells.

Reference	BB/C502773/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Claudia Racca
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	University of Leeds
Department	Institute of Membrane & Systems Biology
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	242,433
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/02/2005
End date	31/08/2005
Duration	7 months

Abstract

The hippocampus plays a key role in learning and memory, and has long served as a model for the cellular basis of synaptic plasticity. Fast excitatory transmission in the hippocampus is mediated by AMPA-type glutamate receptors, and changes in AMPAR composition are involved in synaptic plasticity at hippocampal synapses. Dendritic targeting and local translation of specific mRNAs is a mechanism that synapses can use to control their strength independently of protein transport from the soma. Indeed, recent functional evidence indicates that dendritic AMPAR subunit mRNA localisation and local protein synthesis may participate in regulating the composition of synaptic AMPARs and, ultimately, the strength of hippocampal synapses. This study will characterise: i) the subcellular somatodendritic distribution of AMPAR subunit mRNAs in hippocampal pyramidal cells (high resolution nonisotopic in situ hybridisation); ii) the spatial relation between AMPAR mRNAs and the dendritic synthetic machinery (ISH with LM/EM immunocytochemistry); iii) the role of synaptic and network activity in mRNA localisation (electrophysiology with ISH and IC). These experiments will provide direct demonstration of the presence of AMPAR subunit mRNAs in the dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons, and support the mechanism of dendritic local synthesis of receptors as a tool for neurons in generating lasting changes at individual synapses.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biochemistry & Cell Biology (BCB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

Associated awards:

BB/C502773/2 Dentritic and synaptic targeting of mRNAs for the AMPA-type glutamate receptor subunits in hippocampal pyramidal cells.

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