Abstract

The development, function and structure of the neuromuscular junction will be studied. The genes coding for the acetylcholine receptor and the acetylcholine esterase will be cloned using recombinant DNA technology. The structure of these genes will be determined and their regulation studied using probes for mRNA. The expression of the acetylcholine receptor and esterase genes will be measured during development of the neuromuscular junction and after denervation. Mono-clonal antibody specific for antigens of the neuromuscular junction will be produced. These antibodies should be highly specific probes for the study of synapse structure and function. Immunogens will include basement membrane preparations and muscle cells rich in synaptic endings. The elucidation of the defect in the neuromuscular disease, myasthenia gravis, will continue.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS011549-12
Application #
3394493
Study Section
Neurological Sciences Subcommittee 1 (NLS)
Project Start
1977-01-01
Project End
1987-12-31
Budget Start
1985-01-01
Budget End
1985-12-31
Support Year
12
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Department
Type
DUNS #
005436803
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037

  Publications

Vetter, D E; Mann, J R; Wangemann, P et al. (1996) Inner ear defects induced by null mutation of the isk gene. Neuron 17:1251-64
Cauley, K; Marks, M; Gahring, L C et al. (1996) Nicotinic receptor subunits alpha 3, alpha 4, and beta 2 and high affinity nicotine binding sites are expressed by P19 embryonal cells. J Neurobiol 30:303-14
Johnson, D S; Heinemann, S F (1995) Embryonic expression of the 5-HT3 receptor subunit, 5-HT3R-A, in the rat: an in situ hybridization study. Mol Cell Neurosci 6:122-38
Lobron, C; Wevers, A; Damgen, K et al. (1995) Cellular distribution in the rat telencephalon of mRNAs encoding for the alpha 3 and alpha 4 subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 30:70-6
Johnson, D S; Martinez, J; Elgoyhen, A B et al. (1995) alpha-Conotoxin ImI exhibits subtype-specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptor blockade: preferential inhibition of homomeric alpha 7 and alpha 9 receptors. Mol Pharmacol 48:194-9
Johnson, D S; Heinemann, S F (1995) Detection of 5-HT3R-A, a 5-HT3 receptor subunit, in submucosal and myenteric ganglia of rat small intestine using in situ hybridization. Neurosci Lett 184:67-70
Wevers, A; Jeske, A; Lobron, C et al. (1994) Cellular distribution of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit mRNAs in the human cerebral cortex as revealed by non-isotopic in situ hybridization. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 25:122-8
Pin, J P; Joly, C; Heinemann, S F et al. (1994) Domains involved in the specificity of G protein activation in phospholipase C-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptors. EMBO J 13:342-8
Elgoyhen, A B; Johnson, D S; Boulter, J et al. (1994) Alpha 9: an acetylcholine receptor with novel pharmacological properties expressed in rat cochlear hair cells. Cell 79:705-15
Spiro, J E; Brose, N; Heinemann, S F et al. (1994) Immunolocalization of NMDA receptors in the central nervous system of weakly electric fish: functional implications for the modulation of a neuronal oscillator. J Neurosci 14:6289-99

Showing the most recent 10 out of 46 publications