9314537 Tublitz Neuropeptides, small proteinaceous molecules released from nerve cells, have profound effects both on the brain and peripheral tissues. They have been implicated in a variety of neural functions, ranging from controlling movements to transmitting sensory information such as pain. These chemicals are also involved in more long-term behavioral changes such as learning and memory, arousal and various emotional states. Despite their critical importance, little is known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying peptide action. Dr. Tublitz's research is directed towards finding these answers. He is concentrating on a family of neuropeptides, the Cardioacceleratory Peptides (CAPs), that modulate several different tissues, including the heart, gut and brain. In his previous NSF research, Dr. Tublitz demonstrated that these neuropeptides modulate four different, developmentally-specific behaviors, each having a distinctive set of characteristics resulting in very different physiological and/or behavioral consequences. Moreover, he identified the cells that produce the CAPs and their targets. Dr. Tublitz will now determine how these neuropeptides affect their targets at the molecular level as well as to identify the genes that code producing the peptide regulate its levels. The results from this basic research will lead to a better understanding of how neurochemicals function to modulate nerve cell activity and subsequently, behavior. ***
