Molecular Neurosciences
The mission of the Molecular Neurosciences node is to unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain function. Dramatic advances in chemistry, informatics, and molecular and cell biology have provided tools for a comprehensive molecular analysis of neurons and neuronal networks. Approaches such as the creation and analysis of transgenic mice, proteomic analyses of protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications (e.g. phosphorylation) in neuron signaling, and live cell imaging of biochemical events and dynamic morphological changes in neurons are high priority research areas within the node. The support of the METACyt grant for these cutting-edge approaches in a variety of problem areas such as neural plasticity, sensory function, and neurodevelopment promises to significantly enhance the research efforts of neuroscientists at IU.
