Molecular Pharmacology And Physiology Of Glycine Transport
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,274.00
Summary
The simple amino acid glycine plays an important role in many metabolic events in the body and in the mammalian central nervous system glycine has additional functions as a neurotransmitter. In the spinal cord and brain stem, glycine acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter through activation of glycine receptors. In the brain, glycine may also act as an excitatory neurotransmitter through its action as a co-activator with glutamate at the NMDA subtype of glutamate receptors. This project will add ....The simple amino acid glycine plays an important role in many metabolic events in the body and in the mammalian central nervous system glycine has additional functions as a neurotransmitter. In the spinal cord and brain stem, glycine acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter through activation of glycine receptors. In the brain, glycine may also act as an excitatory neurotransmitter through its action as a co-activator with glutamate at the NMDA subtype of glutamate receptors. This project will address the issue as to whether glycine transporters have the capacity to regulate glycine concentrations within excitatory synapses and thereby play an active role in regulating neurotransmission. This work will form the basis for understanding the role that glycine plays in normal brain functions, such as learning and memory, and also under pathological conditions following a stroke. This work will also serve as a basis for assessing the therapeutic potential of manipulating glycine concentrations in the treatment of neurological disorders, such as schizophrenia.Read moreRead less
The normal functioning of many organs is controlled by several types of nerves through releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters. A new type of nerve has been identified recently; these are called nitrergic nerves. They release a nitric oxide-like transmitter to control the relaxation of smooth muscle. Although it is known that nitrergic nerves play important roles in the regulation of functions of various organs, the nature of its transmitter has not been elucidated. Our recent study suggest ....The normal functioning of many organs is controlled by several types of nerves through releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters. A new type of nerve has been identified recently; these are called nitrergic nerves. They release a nitric oxide-like transmitter to control the relaxation of smooth muscle. Although it is known that nitrergic nerves play important roles in the regulation of functions of various organs, the nature of its transmitter has not been elucidated. Our recent study suggests that the nitrergic transmitter is more close to a redox form of nitric oxide such as nitroxyl anion than to nitric oxide itself. This project will investigate further the mechanism of nitrergic transmission including the nature of the nitrergic transmitter. The proposed research will help to answer important questions regarding the mechanisms of nitrergic transmission and thus may throw additional light to the nature of the nitrergic transmitter. The findings may also be significant for the development of new drugs (such as new NO donors) which interact with nitrergic mechanisms.Read moreRead less