Electrophysiology of voltage-gated proton channel: modulation by amphiphilics

• Grant number: 12/24566-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2013
• End date: May 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Manoel de Arcisio Miranda Filho
• Grantee: Amanda de Moura Arnaut
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ion channels are membrane proteins that allow the passage of ions through its pore. The ion channels are classified depend on its primary ion selectivity and some of which are activated by electrical stimulus - the voltage-sensitive channels. Among them, there is the proton channel, Hv, whose primary function is the extrusion of protons from the intracellular environment. Different factors can cause changes in channel gating kinetics. These factors can be physical or chemical. Chemical agents are the hormones, drugs, and recently included, endocannabinoid ligands. With respect to physical factors, composition and morphology of the membrane can affect the activity of the channel. The proposed study aims to analyze the effects of cannabinoid ligands such as AEA (N-araquidonoiletanolamin) and 2-AG (2-araquidonoilglicerol) and the cholesterol molecules on the kinetics of Hv channels activation of microglia cells. (AU)