ROLE OF SYNAPTOJANIN 2B IN ENDOCYTOSIS AND ACTIN FUNCTION

Brain function is dependent from the correct connection of neuronal cells. Synaptic vesicles are organelles of neuronal cell. During the processes that undergo the communication between neuronal cells, synaptic vesicle are continually consumed and recycled. Rapid and correct reformation of vesicles permit regular function of neuronal cell, and in the end, correct brain function. Conversely, alteration of recycling process cause loss of neuronal cells function, which conduce to severe neurological defects. Several proteins involved in synaptic vesicle recycling have been characterized. However, the precise development of the process have not yet been completely understood. There are several proteins probably involved in synaptic vesicle recycling, which their role is yet unknown. The aim of my project is to understand the function played by one of these proteins in synaptic vesicle recycling. To investigate the role of this specific protein I plan to generate mice which do not have got the protein. The rationale for this approach is that the function of a protein in an organism is often indicated by what happened to organism in response to the absence of the same protein. In this way I intend to generate an animal which will represent model for some severe neurological diseases. An animal model for same neurological alterations provide at least two different advantages: it permit to examine the molecular reasons of that particular disease; it provide an important tool to perform initial therapeutic attempts.