11.1. 2016, Cellular and Molecular Neuroendocrinology

PhD project:

Molecular physiology of P2X receptors and their role in regulation of neuroendocrine cell function

The P2X receptors are ligand gated ion channels activated by extracellular ATP. They play a role in neurotransmission, modulation of neurotransmitter and hormone release, inflammation and pain sensation. The aim of this PhD project is to study structure-function relationship of P2X receptors, their gating mechanisms and binding sites for agonists and allosteric modulators. The research will be focused on recombinant P2X4 and P2X7 receptor subtypes, and P2X receptors endogenously expressed in hypothalamic neurons and pituitary gland. Techniques used in this project will involve cellular electrophysiology, molecular biology, genetic modification of receptors, western blotting, calcium imaging, confocal microscopy and recording from primary culture of pituitary cells and rat brain slices.

Candidate’s profile (requirements): University education in the field of biomedicine, molecular biology, biochemistry or biophysics

Relevant publications:

Mackay L, Zemkova H, Stojilkovic SS, Sherman A, and Khadra A: Deciphering the regulation of P2X4 receptor channel gating by ivermectin using Markov models, PLoS computational biology 13, e1005643 (2017).

Jindrichova M, Bhattacharya A, Rupert M, Skopek P, Obsil T, Zemkova H: Functional characterization of mutants in the transmembrane domains of the rat P2X7 receptor that regulate pore conductivity and agonist sensitivity. J Neurochem 133(6): 815-27 (2015).

Bhattacharya A, Vavra V, Svobodova I, Bendova Z, Vereb G, Zemkova H: Potentiation of inhibitory synaptic transmission by extracellular ATP in rat suprachiasmatic nuclei. J Neurosci 33:8035-8044 (2013).

Supervisor: Hana Zemková, PhD.