Prof A Teschemacher
Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only
About the Project
This MSc by Research is a laboratory-based project which offers the exciting opportunity to spend 1 year in one of our State-of-the-Art laboratories (plus 1 year thesis writing) at the University of Bristol and experience life as a researcher. You will be working with one of our cutting-edge research groups where you will learn new skills and techniques, including experimental design and implementation, data analysis and scientific writing.
It has been becoming increasingly clear that ‘neuro’science research must consider the roles of non-neuronal cells in the central nervous system if integrated brain function is to be understood. We have by now come to appreciate that astrocytes, the most abundant type of glia cells in the brain, play fundamental roles in neurotransmission, not only by fuelling the underlying cellular processes and by removing waste products, but also by integrating, amplifying, and modulating neuronal signals (Verkhratsky et al., 2015). Astrocytes handle glucose intake across the blood-brain barrier, contain the glycogen stores of the brain and, following glycolysis, release lactate into the extracellular space. This lactate may support neuronal function in states of increased energy demand, for example during memory formation (Alberini et al., 2017). However, beyond energy supply, recent evidence has suggested that lactate also acts as extracellular signalling molecule, for example in context of central arousal to salient stimuli, or in autonomic control (Tang et al., 2014;Teschemacher et al., 2015;Mosienko et al., 2015;Mosienko et al., 2018).
Whilst lacking in electrical excitability, astrocytes express a plethora of G-protein-coupled receptors and highly complex intracellular signalling cascades of which we currently have only limited understanding. Over the recent decade, molecular and imaging tools suitable for investigating these have been developed. This research project will use astrocytes in dissociated and slice cultures, viral vector transgenesis, confocal imaging and biosensor electrode measurements to study the effects of GPCR activation on lactate production and release.
Please visit the UOB/faculty of Life Sciences/ School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience/ postgraduate studies website for the complete list of available MSc by Research projects.
Funding Notes
This is a one-year, self-funded Masters (MSc) by research. Fees are £4300 (UK/EU Fee) and bench costs are £5000. Applicants should have (or expect to receive) the equivalent of a First or Upper second-class honours degree in a biomedical discipline.
When applying please select the Faculty of Life Sciences, MSc by Research, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
References
Key references:
1. Alberini CM, Cruz E, Descalzi G, Bessieres B, Gao V (2017) Astrocyte glycogen and lactate: New insights into learning and memory mechanisms. GLIA 66:1244-1262.
2. Mosienko V, Rasooli-Nejad S, Kishi K, De Both M, Jane D, Huentelman MJ, Kasparov S, Teschemacher AG (2018) Putative receptors underpinning L-lactate signalling in locus coeruleus. Neuroglia 1:365-doi:10.3390/neuroglia1020025.
3. Mosienko V, Teschemacher AG, Kasparov S (2015) Is L-lactate a novel signaling molecule in the brain? J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 35:1069-1075.
4. Tang F, Lane S, Korsak A, Paton JF, Gourine AV, Kasparov S, Teschemacher AG (2014) Lactate-mediated glia-neuronal signaling in the mammalian brain. Nature Communications 5:3284-DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4284.
5. Teschemacher AG, Gourine AV, Kasparov S (2015) A Role for Astrocytes in Sensing the Brain Microenvironment and Neuro-Metabolic Integration. Neurochem Res 40:2386-2393.
6. Verkhratsky A, Nedergaard M, Hertz L (2015) Why are astrocytes important? Neurochem Res 40:389-401.
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