New Model Synapse Could Shed Light on Disorders Such as Epilepsy and Anxiety (IMAGE)
Caption
A new way to study the role of a critical neurotransmitter in disorders such as epilepsy, anxiety, insomnia, depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol addiction has been developed by a group of scientists led by Gong Chen, an associate professor of biology at Penn State University. The new method involves molecularly engineering a model synapse -- a structure through which a nerve cell send signals to another cell. This model synapse can precisely control a variety of receptors for the neurotransmitter called GABA, which is important in brain chemistry. The research, which will be published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry on 10 August 2012, opens the door to the possibility of creating safer and more-efficient drugs that target GABA receptors and that cause fewer side effects. Illustration: The research with the model synapses revealed that, when a GABA-A receptor had Alpha 2 subunits, the receptor tended move toward and form at the synaptic region. However, when a GABA-A receptor had Alpha 6 subunits, the receptor tended to move toward the extrasynaptic region. More information is online at http://www.science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2012-news/Chen8-2012.
Credit
Gong Chen lab, Penn State
Usage Restrictions
The image caption must be published along with the image
License
Licensed content