Role of microRNAs in regulation of neuronal response to the neurotransmitter dopamine

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Anne Schaefer
• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2006 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 23241506

The function of the nervous system depends on coordinated activity of specialized individual neurons. This specialization is achieved with the help of various neurotransmitters that control gene and protein expression. It has been recognized recently that gene transcription and translation are regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs), a small non-coding RNA that target their complementary mRNA for cleavage or translational arrest. While many of known miRNAs are expressed in neurons, the role of miRNA in neuronal cell function is unknown. The purpose of the proposed experiment is to address the role of miRNAs in the regulation of neuron responses to dopamine -one of the most potent and clinically relevant neurotransmitter in the mamalian brain. To address the existence of a dopamine-specific pattern of miRNA expression, we will study expression of known miRNAs in striatal neurons before and after drug treatment. Identification of dopamine-induced miRNAs and their targets may help to identify regulatory circuits essential for dopamine-induced neuronal cell function in health and disease. To address an overall role of miRNA function in neurons, we will abolish miRNA production in dopamine-sensitive neurons in the striatum. For this purpose we plan to use conditional inactivation of the gene encoding the key miRNA-generating enzyme Dicer.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Dr. Paul Greengard