On Dec 16,2009,the Journal of Neuroscience published a full research article from Institute of Neuroscience, SIBS,CAS entitled'GABA Transporter-1 Activity Modulates Hippocampal Theta Oscillation and Theta Burst Stimulation-Induced Long-Term Potentiation'.This work was carried out by postdoctoral fellow Dr.Neng Gong from the laboratory of Dr.Tian-Le Xu at ION,and collaborators.
The recent demonstration of proton signaling in C. elegans muscle contraction suggests a novel mechanism for proton-based intercellular communication and has stimulated enthusiasm for exploring proton signaling in higher organ- isms. Emerging evidence indicates that protons are produced and regulated in localized space and time. Furthermore, identification of proton regulators and sensors in the brain leads to the speculation that proton production and regulation may be of major importance for both physiological and pathological functions ranging from nociception to learning and memory. Extracellular protons may play a role in signal transmission by not only acting on adjacent ceils hut also af- fecting the cell from which they were released. In this review, we summarize the upstream and downstream pathways of proton production and regulation in the mammalian brain, with special emphasis on the proton extruders and sensors that are critical in the homeostatic regulation of pH, and discuss their potential roles in proton signaling under normal and pathophysiological conditions.
Ion channels,as membrane proteins,are the sensors of the cell.They act as the first line of communication with the world beyond the plasma membrane and transduce changes in the external and internal environments into unique electrical signals to shape the responses of excitable cells.Because of their importance in cellular communication,ion channels have been intensively studied at the structural and functional levels.Here,we summarize the diverse approaches,including molecular and cellular,chemical,optical,biophysical,and computational,used to probe the structural and functional rearrangements that occur during channel activation（or sensitization）,inactivation（or desensitization）,and various forms of modulation.The emerging insights into the structure and function of ion channels by multidisciplinary approaches allow the development of new pharmacotherapies as well as new tools useful in controlling cellular activity.
