Date:
May 25, 2007
Time: Noon to 1:00
Title: "A Peptidomic Approach to Neuromodulation of a Small Neural
Network"
Speaker:
Lingjun Li, PhD
School of Pharmacy, Department of Chemistry, Neuroscience Training Program
University of Wisconsin-Madison
About the Talk:
Neuropeptides make up the largest and the most complex signaling molecules used
in intercellular communication. Because of critical roles that these
polypeptides play in the regulation of many essential physiological processes,
it is of great interest to characterize these diverse assortments of chemical
messengers and determine their functions in the neural circuitry. The simpler
and well-characterized crustacean nervous system provides an excellent model
system to investigate how a rich repertoire of neuropeptides can fine tune a
well-defined neural circuitry to produce multiple outputs at the cellular and
network levels. Using a highly sensitive mass spectrometry-based peptide
profiling and de novo sequencing strategy, a large number of novel
peptides have been discovered, revealing that even a relatively simple neural
network contains an unexpectedly-rich diversity of neuropeptides. Towards the
goal of functional discovery of bioactive neuropeptides, novel quantitative
schemes based on isotopic labeling have been developed to produce differential
display of neuropeptidomes under different physiological conditions. Examples
of neuropeptide regulation of feeding behavior and neural network development
will be described in this presentation. Collectively, these combined peptidomic
and physiological studies will help to elucidate the functional roles that
neuropeptides play in regulating neural network plasticity.
Where: Waisman
Conference Center
Room T216, Second Floor, North Tower
For Further Information: Contact Teresa Palumbo at 263-5837 or
palumbo@waisman.wisc.edu
The Waisman Center Seminar
Series is partially funded by the
Friends of the Waisman Center and NIH grant P30 HD03352.
