Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans
Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Biyolojik Bilimler Bölümü, Türkiye
Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2013
Tezin Dili: İngilizce
Öğrenci: Selin Akkuzu
Danışman: ÇAĞDAŞ DEVRİM SON
Özet:Recently, several studies have demonstrated that G protein coupled receptors exist as homo/heterodimers or oligomers. Adenosine A2A receptors and dopamine D2 receptors are present as both homo- and heterodimer. In the GABAergic striatopallidal neurons A2AR are co- localized with D2 receptors (D2R), and establish functional A2AR-D2R heteromers, which modulates dopaminergic activity. Due to be involved in physiological processes, these receptors bear critical roles. Dopamine receptors play critical role in dopaminergic pathways in regulation of memory, food intake and psychomotor activity, etc. On the other hand, adenosine A2A receptors are involved in the regulations of neurotransmission, immune response and cardiovascular systems. Dopamine D2R andadenosine A2AR have been shown to interact in striatum and modulate dopaminergic activity The purpose of this study is to assess the functionality of EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) and mCherry (a red fluorescent protein) tagged adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors and to detect homo/ hetero-dimerization of these receptors in live cells via Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). Understanding the mechanisms of the interaction between adenosine and dopamine signaling will help us to figure out some molecular mechanism of neurophysiological disorders. Furthermore, the fluorescence based live cell model could be used to observe the effects of potential anti-psychotic drugs on the interaction of these two receptors.