Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2005

Mentor: Craig M. Powell, M.D./Ph.D.
Department: Psychiatry and Neurology
Room number: NC5.410
Mail Code: 9070
Phone number: 214-648-4153
E-mail: Craig.Powell@UTSouthwestern.edu
Project title: Molecular Basis of Memory; Molecular Basis of Synaptic Change During Epilepsy

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0941-04-01-1 and 0893-04-01-1

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)

animal-based research

Brief Description of Project:

Molecular Basis of Learning and Memory

My laboratory is interested in understanding the lasting molecular changes that take place in the brain during learning and memory. Because learning and memory involves alterations in the strength of synaptic connections, we are most interested in molecular changes in synaptic proteins.

Our preliminary studies have identified increases in glutamate receptor phosphorylation in the hippocampus during learning. These phosphorylation changes are known to occur during lasting synaptic plasticity, and our ongoing study will be the first to demonstrate that these changes occur during learning in the intact brain. One summer student project would involve completing this study of phosphorylation changes in synaptic proteins such as the glutamate receptor. Another potential pilot project with more broad implications would be to isolate postsynaptic densities to look for changes in the amounts of novel synaptic proteins during learning.

Molecular Basis of Epilepsy

Similar, lasting increases in synaptic strength may occur following seizure activity in epilepsy. We are planning to induce spontaneous epilepsy in rats and look for similar alterations in synaptic proteins after a single seizure and after chronic, spontaneous seizures. We also would like to examine postsynaptic densities in this model to look for long-lasting changes in synaptic protein levels during epilepsy. Such changes in excitatory synaptic transmission are likely contribute to the generation of seizure activity. In addition, we are interested in isolating membrane proteins from epileptic rats and looking for changes in the levels of ion channels both after a single seizure and after chronic, spontaneous seizures (epilepsy) is induced.

Techniques

The techniques used would depend on the project and the student's experience.

Students would have the opportunity to learn the following:

1-D protein gels
2-D protein gels
Animal handling and behavior (learning and memory behaviors and epilepsy models)
Western blots
Electrophysiology of synaptic plasticity

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

2004: Supervised James Kim, a Berkeley undergraduate who performed biochemistry experiments for the project on phosphorylation of glutamate receptors during learning.

2004: Supervised Divya Balasubramanian, from the University of North Texas TAMS program, who performed the behavioral studies for the project on phosphorylation of glutamate receptors during learning project.

This summer work has culminated in a published abstract at the Cold Spring Harbor Learning and Memory Meeting for James Kim. It is anticipated that a journal article will be submitted on this work in the near future with the summer students as authors. If additional, significant contributions to this work are made by summer students, then they will be included as authors as well.

Return to UT Southwestern Homepage

Return to Student Research Projects Index