A Role for RNA Editing of AMPA Receptors in Drug Addiction?

Supervisors:Dr Bianca Jupp, Professor Andrew Lawrence

Post-transcriptional RNA editing of AMPA receptors is an important process involved in the control of excitability and plasticity within the brain. Given the role for this process it is possible that RNA editing may represent an important process in the development of drug induced plasticity and the establishment / expression of drug seeking behaviour. The project will involve characterisation of transgenic mice with altered RNA editing of the GluR2 AMPA receptor subunit using behavioural tests indicative of propensity for drug abuse. Following characterisation, molecular and cellular investigations will aim to determine the mechanism RNA editing may act through to establish the behavioural phenotype.

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Actions of INSL3 and RXFP2 in sensorimotor circuits: Possible trophic/modulatory role in developing/mature brain?

Co-supervisors: Dr Qian Sang, Dr Wah Chin Boon

Our research explores the function of the relaxin family of peptides and their receptors in the central nervous system, including insulin-like peptide-3 (INSL3) and its receptor, LGR8 or RXFP2. This project aims to determine the role of INSL3/RXFP2 signaling in the development of endocrine, basal ganglia and limbic circuits involved in regulation of sensorimotor responses and behaviour and their response to injury and sex hormones.

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Actions of relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling in limbic networks involved in social interaction – Implications for understanding and treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD)

Co-supervisor: Dr Craig Smith

Our research seeks to determine the function of the relaxin family of peptides and their cognate receptors [1, 2] in the central nervous system, in particular the neuropeptide, relaxin-3, and its receptor, RXFP3, with a view to developing new peptide-based therapies for neuropsychiatric conditions incl. mood, sleep and behavioural disorders. This project aims to determine the effect of relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling networks in the limbic forebrain on social interaction, communication and repetitive behaviours, in normal and transgenic mice. These studies of mouse behaviour may help to identify the neural substrates for a potential novel therapeutic treatment of ASD.

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Adult neurogenesis of dopamine cells

Co-supervisor: Dr. Davor Stanic

Stem cells make new neurones in two regions of the adult brain: the hippocampus and the Olfactory Bulb. In the case of the Olfactory Bulb, one of the important products of neurogenesis is new Dopamine cells. In this project we will study how the neurogenesis that produces these cells is controlled and what circuits and external stimuli are required for this regulation. This is important for understanding how stem cells can be used for brain repair in Parkinsons disease.

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Analysis of the interaction between TrkA and Spred

Development requires the highly regulated control of cellular differentiation and maturation.

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