Expression levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) for the alpha1H subunit of the low voltage activated calcium channel family in rat spinal cord under normal and hypothyroid conditions
My research is going to deal with studying the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) in the rat spinal cord. The mRNA levels will be studied for the pore forming subunit of a low voltage activated calcium channel. These channels have been thought to be important for neuronal functions and pathways, such as those involved in epilepsy, and have been determined to be expressed in some regions of the adult rat spinal cord. As of yet, not much is known about the change in levels of expression of these channels from early development to full maturation, and thus about the importance of low voltage activated channels during these stages of life. The technique that we will be using to quantify mRNA expression is reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to amplify mRNA levels of the alpha1H subunit that is of interest to us. Analysis of other channels in this group shows plenty of variability in their expression patterns. This is what we will look for in our channel and this kind of variability is expected. Our analysis is intent on determining at what age the spinal cord relies on these channels to carry on its functions.
School:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Department:
Health Administration
Research Advisor:
Esmail Meisami
Department of Research Advisor:
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Year of Publication:
2003