A key feature of neurons is that they receive inputs, often conduct action potentials to another site, and then transmit to another cell. Neurotransmission involves the synthesis, storage, and release of chemical messengers (transmitters) into extracellular space; the reception of information from the neurotransmitters at the target cell; and then transduction of that signal into another set of biochemical and voltage changes. The Neuroscience Department has experts in many of these areas, utilizing various model systems like budding yeast, C. elegans, Drosophila, mice, and human neuronal cultures with active research areas ranging from ionic and biochemical transduction of nervous signals to second messenger systems. Our studies of regulation of neurotransmitter metabolism now have progressed to include molecular modeling as part of experimental design, work that complements the research on the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Faculty: Yan, Antic, Levine, Ma, Niu, Wang Xiong, Yue