Molecular and Integrative Neuroscience Research in the University of Helsinki Center for Developmental Biology

Home > Seminars and Events > Molecular and Integrative Neuroscience Research in the University of Helsinki

Category	Seminar
Date and Time	2006-10-16 15:00 - 15:45
Venue	Auditorium C1F
Speaker	Heikki Rauvala
Affiliation	Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Finland
Title	Molecular and Integrative Neuroscience Research in the University of Helsinki
Poster	click here to download(PDF)
Host	Masatoshi Takeichi
Summary	The research program focuses on neuronal growth factors, adhesion molecules and ion-regulatory proteins in the development, plasticity and disorders of brain. The participating teams represent complementary expertises in different fields of molecular and cellular neurobiology, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, and systems neuroscience. This enables synergistic efforts combining structural, molecular and cellular studies with modern transgenic, behavioural and imaging techniques. The following major topics of the research program will be discussed: 1. Developmental and neuroprotective roles of novel neurotrophic factors, MANFs, recently discovered in the research program. 2. Functions of GDNF family growth factors and their interactions with heparan sulfate proteoglycans, particularly with N-syndecan. 3. The cation-chloride cotransporter KCC2 that was shown to function as a developmental switch in GABAergic neurotransmission that is regulated by neurotrophic factors, including BDNF. 4. Functions of novel adhesion molecules, AMIGOs, recently discovered in the research program.