Changes in Gene Expression of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors Mediated by a Constitutively Active Phenotype
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Aronstam, Robert
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Missouri S&T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program; Biological Sciences Department; Missouri S&T cDNA Resource Center
Abstract
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are involved in multiple processes of the central and autonomic nervous system. They play an integral role in learning, memory, mood, attention, arousal, rest, and digestion. Acetylcholine, the native agonist for muscarinic receptors, initiates a signal transduction pathway that begins in the extracellular matrix and culminates with altered gene expression in the nucleus of the cell. These changes in gene expression can be measured using reporter plasmid comprised of specific response elements coupled to the gene coding for firefly luciferase. In these assays, the amount of light emitted directly correlates with the concentration of luciferase, a measure of response element activation. In the present study I demonstrate that each of the five muscarinic receptors subtypes with the constitutively active phenotype increase unstimulated gene expression and a potentiation of the induced reporter gene expression.
Biography
Erica is a junior in the Biological Sciences department at Missouri S&T. She is pursuing a BS in Biological Sciences and minors in Chemistry, Psychology of Leadership, and Organizational Psychology. Since her freshman year Erica has been actively involved in student organizations and held many leadership roles. Erica is currently the Webmaster of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Shamrock Chapter and President of the international Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Student Design Team. In addition to participating in student organizations, Erica is a student researcher in the biological sciences neurobiology lab and a student worker in the cDNA Resource Center. In her free time Erica likes to paint and read Michael Crichton novels.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Award
Sciences oral presentation, First place
Best Bibliography Award Recipient, Sciences
Location
Turner Room
Presentation Date
06 Apr 2011, 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Changes in Gene Expression of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors Mediated by a Constitutively Active Phenotype
Turner Room
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are involved in multiple processes of the central and autonomic nervous system. They play an integral role in learning, memory, mood, attention, arousal, rest, and digestion. Acetylcholine, the native agonist for muscarinic receptors, initiates a signal transduction pathway that begins in the extracellular matrix and culminates with altered gene expression in the nucleus of the cell. These changes in gene expression can be measured using reporter plasmid comprised of specific response elements coupled to the gene coding for firefly luciferase. In these assays, the amount of light emitted directly correlates with the concentration of luciferase, a measure of response element activation. In the present study I demonstrate that each of the five muscarinic receptors subtypes with the constitutively active phenotype increase unstimulated gene expression and a potentiation of the induced reporter gene expression.
