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A Genetic study of Neuronal Signaling, Glutamate Accumulation,

and Stroke-Like Neuro-degeneration in C. elegans

 Our brain is buzzing with neuronal activity. Nerve cells relentlessly fire information at one another, releasing powerful stimulating molecules in the process. How do we keep order in this mayhem? How do we prevent the accumulation of these powerful stimulating signals? What are the pathological events that happen in diseases like stroke, when we do accumulate too much of these signaling molecules? Can we find ways to stop the degenerative process that ensues? These are some of the questions that we study in our lab. To help us tackle these complicated topics, we use the microscopic, free-living nematode C. elegans. Although these worms look very different from humans, they provide an excellent animal model system, because cellular and molecular events are highly conserved in evolution and are very similar in nematodes and humans. This approach offers a set of very powerful research tools. We can use genetic analysis and screen through huge numbers of worms for rare mutants of interest. We also know a lot about their genome, their development and the details of the wiring of their nervous system. We therefore use C. elegans to study Glutamate Transporters, the proteins that prevent the accumulation of dangerous concentrations of the powerful stimulating molecules in the brain, and the process of excitotoxic neurodegeneration that follows their malfunction.       more ｻｻ