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Introduction Lab members Publications Location And more... |
What controls information flow in the brain? All perception, thought, and behavior arises from the fast flow of electrical signals within brain cells, and fast transfer of chemical signals between brain cells. Ion channels mediate fast information flow in the brain. Ion channel activity underlies fast electrical changes within brain cells, and transduces fast chemical signals between cells. Two types of ion channels are particularly important for fast information flow in the brain: 1) voltage-gated sodium channels, and 2) ionotropic glutamate receptors. Voltage-gated sodium channels are required for the initiation of most electrical signals within brain cells, and ionotropic glutamate receptors are required for transducing most of the chemical signals between brain cells. Our studies are currently focused on glutamate-gated ion channels. To better understand the molecular mechanisms controlling ionotropic glutamate receptor abundance and function, we conducted forward and reverse genetic screens covering approximately one-quarter of the entire Drosophila genome. We are now exploringin more detail the cellular processes that seem most interesting and important, using both Drosophila and mice. Our studies tend to use a variety of techniques, including molecular genetics, microscopy, electrophysiology, and behavioral analysis. |
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