Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2008

Mentor: David W. Russell, Ph.D.
Department: Molecular Genetics
Room number: L5.262
Mail Code: 9046

Phone number: 214 648-2007

E-mail: david.russell@utsouthwestern.edu

Project title: Role of geranylgeraniol in hippocampal long-term potentiation.

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0557-07-03-1

Project Type: Animal-based

Brief Description of Project: Research in the Russell laboratory has shown that a side-product of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, geranylgeraniol, is required for the strengthening of synapses in response to electrical stimulation of hippocampal slices. Ms. Lin's project will involve the use of bisphosphonate inhibitors that block the synthesis of geranylgeraniol and the determination of how this inhibition affects synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Wild-type mice will be used as sources of hippocampal slices, which will be studied using sophisticated techniques of electrophysiology. This research explores the link between cholesterol metabolism and brain function and is relevant to learning and memory formation.