RESEARCH
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF COMMUNICATION AT MULTIPLE LEVELS OF THE BRAIN?
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF COMMUNICATION AT MULTIPLE LEVELS OF THE BRAIN?
Communication in biological systems at multiple levels, from molecules to organisms, is an essential process for sharing information among members of society. At the molecular level of the brain, communication at a particular set of molecules is important not only for determining specific functions of individual cells, but also for creating harmonious and complex multicellular functions such as brain circuit activity that can ultimately change organism behavior. Therefore, understanding the nature of molecular communication and their higher level of functional outcomes is a fundamental step in explaining how the brain works as a whole. To achieve this, we have designed a new series of synthetic molecules that use naturally occurring or engineered protein domain components and combine them in various ways to visualize or manipulate molecular and cellular communication in living systems. For example, using Cryptochrome2, a blue light photoreceptor from plant, we have developed optogenetic tools to regulate molecular communication by light illumination to control specific brain functions in a highly spatiotemporal manner. In addition, by utilizing fluorescence protein modules, we have developed biosensors that allow us to visualize specific protein activity on the micron scale in the brain of awake animals. Currently, we are focusing on development of synthetic molecules for regulation of intercellular communications in the brain. We anticipate that application of these synthetic modules to the brain can reveal the basic principles of communication at different levels of the brain.
Communication in biological systems at multiple levels, from molecules to organisms, is an essential process for sharing information among members of society. At the molecular level of the brain, communication at a particular set of molecules is important not only for determining specific functions of individual cells, but also for creating harmonious and complex multicellular functions such as brain circuit activity that can ultimately change organism behavior. Therefore, understanding the nature of molecular communication and their higher level of functional outcomes is a fundamental step in explaining how the brain works as a whole. To achieve this, we have designed a new series of synthetic molecules that use naturally occurring or engineered protein domain components and combine them in various ways to visualize or manipulate molecular and cellular communication in living systems. For example, using Cryptochrome2, a blue light photoreceptor from plant, we have developed optogenetic tools to regulate molecular communication by light illumination to control specific brain functions in a highly spatiotemporal manner. In addition, by utilizing fluorescence protein modules, we have developed biosensors that allow us to visualize specific protein activity on the micron scale in the brain of awake animals. Currently, we are focusing on development of synthetic molecules for regulation of intercellular communications in the brain. We anticipate that application of these synthetic modules to the brain can reveal the basic principles of communication at different levels of the brain.