9629037 Verdoorn Glutamate receptors are proteins that help brain cells communicate with each other. These receptors recognized the chemical signaling molecular glutamate and generate an electrical signal when glutamate is found. The proposed studies attempt to understand the mechanism whereby the glutamate receptor protein specifically recognizes glutamate. A goal of this project is to purposely alter the structure of the receptor protein and then study how the alteration changes the action of glutamate on the receptor. The receptor will be studied by a technique for measuring the tiny electrical currents generated by the receptor. This technique is called patch clamp and can be used to examine the behavior of a single glutamate receptor protein in real time. The studies will be guided by models of the shape of the glutamate receptor protein in the area that recognizes glutamate. These high resolution technologies will eventually allow the design of drugs that will alter the behavior of glutamate receptors. Such drugs may be useful in the treatment of epilepsy, stroke, traumatic head injury, and memory problems.
