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Professor Elek Molnar Molecular mechanisms of neuronal plasticity Full contact details |
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Projects - Diseases - Processes - Techniques - Equipment - Funding - Collaborations - Teaching - Group members - Publications & further information
Research
The research in our laboratory focuses on developmental and activity dependent changes in the molecular organisation and function of glutamate receptors in the central nervous system. These receptors are thought to be involved in events such as synapse formation, learning, memory, neuronal plasticity and neurodegenerative disease processes.
We are particularly interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying the subcellular targeting of glutamate receptors and modulation of synaptic efficacy. We study the mechanism of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit assembly, synaptic expression and the role of receptor-associated proteins. A major focus of our research is on the role of different ionotropic glutamate receptors in long-term activity-dependent changes in the strength of synaptic transmission.
We use a combination of biochemical, immunocytochemical, fluorescence imaging, molecular- and cell biological approaches. Our studies allow us to gain some understanding of the rules neurons follow during the expression, assembly and cell surface targeting of glutamate receptors, and the mechanism by which synaptic input controls a neuron's ability to modify its synapses.
 | Further information on the work of the group may be found at the MRC Centre for Synaptic Plasticity website. |
- Developmental and activity dependent changes in synaptic glutamate receptors
- Assembly and cell surface expression of kainate receptors
- Cellular and molecular mechanisms of recognition memory
- Molecular mechanisms of expression of NMDA receptor-dependent LTP and LTD in the hippocampus
- Investigation of the molecular mechanisms involved in white matter injury in the immature brain
Changes in the molecular organisation, distribution and functional properties of glutamate receptors in acute and chronic seizures
Immunocytochemistry, fluorescence imaging, cell culture, protein and membrane biochemistry, subcellular fractionation, synaptosome preparation, molecular biology, RT-PCR, fusion proteins, antibody production
Confocal microscope, PCR machine, centrifuges, ELISA photometer, various gel-electrophoresis systems
Projects - Diseases - Processes - Techniques - Equipment - Funding - Collaborations - Teaching - Group members - Publications & further information
Grants and funding
- Wellcome Trust
- MRC
Collaborations
- Prof. G. L. Collingridge (MRC CSP, Department of Anatomy, Bristol)
- Prof. J. M. Henley (MRC CSP, Department of Anatomy, Bristol)
- Prof. M. W. Brown (MRC CSP, Department of Anatomy, Bristol)
- Prof. Z. I. Bashir (MRC CSP, Department of Anatomy, Bristol)
- Dr Karen Luyt (Department of Child Health, Bristol)
- Prof. M. Thoresen (Department of Child Health, Bristol)
- Dr. J. T. R. Isaac (NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA )
- Prof. R. Shigemoto (Okazaki, Japan)
- Prof. A. Mihaly (Szeged, Hungary)
Teaching
In the Department of Anatomy:- Level 1 Anatomical Science Units (Unit organiser)
- Level 1 Techniques in Neuroscience Unit
- Level 1 MBChB Cardiovascular system
- Level 2 Anatomical Science Units
- Level 2 BDS Anatomy
- Level 3 Brain function and disorders (Element organiser)
- Level 3 Molecular neuroscience
- Honours research projects
- MSc in Biomedical Sciences Research (Organiser of the Neuroscience component)
- Postgraduate research methods course (Cell culture and fluorescence imaging)
Publications, recommended reading and further information
Molnar, E. (2006)
Molecular organisation and regulation of glutamate receptors in developing and adult mammalian central nervous systems.
In: Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology, Vol. 2, Neurotransmitter Systems (eds: Vizi, E. S. and Hamon, M.), Third edition, Springer
Luyt, K., Slade, T. P., Dorward, J. J., Durant, C. F., Wu, Y., Shigemoto, R., Mundell, S., Varadi, A., Molnar, E. (2006)
Developing oligodendrocytes express functional GABA B receptors that stimulate cell proliferation and migration.
J. Neurochem. (in press)
Luyt, K., Varadi, A., Durant, C. F., Molnar, E. (2006)
Oligodendroglial metabotropic glutamate receptors are developmentally regulated and involved in the prevention of apoptosis.
J. Neurochem. 99 , 641-656.
Jo, J., Ball, S. M., Seok, H., Oh, S.-B., Massey, P. V., Molnar, E., Bashir, Z. I., Cho, K. (2006)
Experience-dependent modification of mechanisms of LTD.
Nature Neurosci. 9, 170-172.
Callaerts-Vegh, Z., Beckers, T., Ball, S. M., Baeyens, F., Callaerts, P. F., Cryan, J. F., Molnar, E. , D'Hooge, R. (2006)
Concomitant deficits in working memory and fear extinction are functionally dissociated from reduced anxiety in mGluR7-deficient mice.
J. Neurosci. 26 , 6573-6582.
Molnar, Z., Molnar, E. (2006)
Calcium and NeuroD2 control the development of thalamocortical communication.
Neuron 49 , 639-642.
Moult, P. R., Gladding, C. M., Sanderson, T., Fitzjohn, S. M., Bashir, Z. I., Molnar, E. , Collingridge, G. L. (2006)
Tyrosine phosphatases regulate AMPA receptor trafficking during metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated long-term depression
J. Neurosci. 26 , 2544-2554.
Kopniczky, Z., Dobo, E., Borbely, S., Vilagi, I. , Detari, L., Krisztin-Peva, B., Bagosi, A., Molnar, E., Mihaly, A. (2005)
Lateral entorhinal cortex lesions rearrange afferents, glutamate receptors, increase seizure latency and suppress seizure-induced c-fos expression in the hippocampus of adult rat.
J. Neurochem. 95, 111-124.
Tanaka, J., Matsuzaki, M., Tarusawa, E., Momiyama, A., Molnar, E., Kasai , H., Shigemoto, R. (2005)
Number and density of AMPA receptors in single synapses in immature cerebellum.
J. Neurosci. 25, 799-807.
Harris, S. L., Cho, K., Bashir, Z. I., Molnar, E. (2004)
Metabotropic receptor signalling in perirhinal cortical neurons.
Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 25, 275-287.
Massey, P. V., Johnson, B. E., Moult, P. R., Auberson Y. P., Brown, M. W., Molnar, E., Collingridge, G. L., Bashir Z. I. (2004)
Differential roles of NR2A and NR2B-containing NMDA receptors in cortical long-term potentiation and long-term depression.
J. Neurosci. 24, 7821-7828.
| Further information on the work of the group may be found at the MRC Centre for Synaptic Plasticity website. |
Projects - Diseases - Processes - Techniques - Equipment - Funding - Collaborations - Teaching - Group members - Publications & further information