Probing the Chemistry of Neurotransmission

The transmission of signals in the brain and nervous system is a highly regulated process that forms the basis for plasticity and learning in the central nervous system (CNS). Discrete molecular processes involving the release and translocation of neutotrnasmitters between individual neurons are the underlying mechanism by which transmission is achieved, however, most of the chemical details that drive synaptic transmission remain unknown. New tools are needed at the interface of bioinorganic chemistry, neurochemistry and molecular imaging to unravel the chemistry that controls synaptic activity. We endeavor to help address this issue by developing fluorescent constructs for the selective detection and spatiotemporal visualization of small molecule neurotransmitters in vivo. We are also developing fluorescent probes capable of detecting markers of oxidative stress and neurodegeneration in the brain.