Role of small GTPase signaling in the direct pathway of basal ganglia
Description: The basal ganglia regulate important neural functions such as motor control and reward. The direct pathway, which is derived from dopamine D1 receptor-positive neurons in the striatum and projects to the substantia nigra pars compacta, plays an important role in the motor onset and reinforcement. However, the molecular mechanism underlying these neural functions remains unknown. In this study, we succeeded in producing genetically modified mice, in which PKA functioning upstream of small GTPase Rap1 is specifically activated in the direct pathway. These mice exhibited the characteristic behavioral and electrophysiological phenotypes, suggesting the involvement of the PKA signaling in the motor control.
Amount: ¥3,380,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Start date: 2018-04-01
End date: 2021-03-31
Investigator: Kenta Kobayashi
Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences
Funded outputs count: 21
Funder award ID: 18K06535
OpenAlex ID: G3836215749