Susan Jones PhD
University
Lecturer
Tel: +44 (0)1223 333795, Fax: +44 (0)1223 333786, E-mail: sj251@cam.ac.uk
Research interests
The overall aim of our research is to investigate the properties of neurotransmitter
receptors and their functional and dysfunctional effects in brain regions relevant
to neurological and psychiatric diseases. We are particularly interested in
glutamate and dopamine in midbrain nuclei. The substantia nigra is an important
midbrain nucleus that forms part of the basal ganglia circuitry in the brain.
In Parkinson’s
disease, a progressive neurological disorder, there is a loss of dopaminergic
neurones in the substantia nigra (animation). We study the properties and regulation of NMDA glutamate receptors in dopaminergic
versus non-dopaminergic neurones of the substantia nigra. NMDA receptors are
activated by a combination of glutamate binding and membrane depolarization
and allow Ca2+ ions into neurones; as a result, NMDA receptors have important neuronal functions,
such as neuronal development and plasticity (animation). However, NMDA receptors are also associated with cell death under pathophysiological
conditions.
We are interested in other ion channels and receptors that contribute to the characteristic firing properties of neurones in the substantia nigra and in other brain regions. We use cellular neurophysiology and pharmacology to identify the properties of functional receptors (Figures 3 & 4, left) and imaging approaches, for example to visualise labelled receptors (Figures 1 & 2, left).
Sponsors and current colleagues
| Former colleagues | Former Part II students | |
| Shona
Brothwell, Ph.D. Helen Gibson, Ph.D. Louise O'Neill, CPGS Marc Smith Francisco Suárez, Ph.D. |
Shiraz
Badurdeen Joy Barber Helen Barron Anton Burdakov Isabel Huang-Doran |
Victor
Kung Rachel Newby Natasha Wear |
Current Collaborators
Dr Joshua Dudman & Dr Luke Lavis, Janelia Farm
Research Campus USA
Dr Steve Edgley, University of Cambridge
Dr Alasdair Gibb, University College London
Dr Jeremy Skepper, University of Cambridge
Dr Stephen Traynelis, Emory University USA
Publications
F. Suárez,
Q. Zhao, D.T. Monaghan, D.E. Jane, S. Jones, A.J. Gibb (2010). Functional heterogeneity of NMDA receptors in rat substantia nigra pars compacta
and reticulata neurones. Eur J Neurosci. 32,359-367.
D. Glynn, H.E. Gibson, M.K. Harte, K. Reim, S. Jones, G.P. Reynolds and A.J. Morton (2010). Clorgyline-mediated reversal of neurological deficits in a Complexin 2 knockout mouse. Hum Mol Genet. 19, 3402-3412.
H.E. Gibson and S. Jones. Memory and long-term depression. In: Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology Ed: I.P. Stolerman 2010, Springer.
S.L.C. Brothwell, J.L. Barber, D.T. Monaghan, D.E. Jane, A.J. Gibb and S. Jones (2008). NR2B- and NR2D-containing synaptic NMDA receptors in developing rat substantia nigra pars compacta dopaminergic neurones. Journal of Physiology 586, 739-750.
See also ‘Perspective’ by D.Wyllie: ‘2B or 2B and 2D? That is the question’ J. Physiology 586, 693.
O.V. Poisik, J. Shen, S. Jones and J.L. Yakel (2008). Functional a7-containing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Localize to Cell Bodies and Proximal Dendrites in the Rat Substantia Nigra pars Reticulata Journal of Physiology 586, 1365-1378.
V.W.S. Kung, R. Hassam, A.J. Morton and S. Jones (2007). Dopamine-dependent long term potentiation in the dorsal striatum is reduced in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease. Neuroscience 146, 1571-1580.
Jones, S. and Gibb, A.J. (2005). Functional NR2B- and NR2D-containing NMDA receptor channels in rat substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons. J. Physiology 569, 209-221.
Gibson, H.E., Reim, K., Brose N., Morton, A.J. and Jones, S. (2005). A similar impairment in CA3 mossy fibre LTP in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington’s disease and in the complexin II knockout mouse. Eur. J. Neuroscience 22, 1701-1712.
Jones, S. and Bonci, A. (2005). Synaptic plasticity and drug addiction. Curr. Opinion Pharmacol. 5, 20-25.
Faleiro, L., Jones, S. and Kauer, J.A. (2004). Rapid synaptic plasticity of glutamatergic synapses on dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area in response to acute amphetamine injection. Neuropsychopharmacology 29, 2115-2125.
Jones, S. and Yakel, J.L. (2003). Casein kinase II (protein kinase CK2) regulates serotonin 5-HT3 receptor channel function in NG108-15 cells. Neuroscience 119, 629-634.
Jones, S. and Gutlerner, J.L. (2002). Addictive drugs modify excitatory synaptic control of midbrain dopamine cells. Neuroreport, 13, A29-A33.
Jones, S., Kornblum, J. L. and Kauer, J. A. (2000). Amphetamine blocks long term synaptic depression in the ventral tegmental area. J. Neuroscience, 20 5575-5580.
Jones, S. and Yakel, J. L. (2000). Inhibitory interneurons: sites for regulation of information flow in the hippocampus by neurotransmitters. Cell Biochem. Biophys. 31 (2), 207-218.
Jones, S. and Kauer, J. A. (1999). Amphetamine depresses excitatory synaptic transmission via serotonin receptors in the ventral tegmental area. J. Neuroscience 19, 9780-9787.
Jones, S., Sudweeks, S. and Yakel, J. L. (1999). Nicotinic receptors in the brain: correlating physiology with function. Trends in Neurosciences 22, 555-561.
Jones, S. and Yakel, J. L. (1998). Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels regulates 5-HT3 receptor channel desensitization in rat glioma x mouse neuroblastoma hybrid NG108-15 cells. J. Physiol. 510, 361-370.
Jones, S. and Yakel, J.L. (1997). Functional nicotinic ACh receptors on interneurones in the rat hippocampus. J. Physiol. 504, 603-610.
Jones, S., Brown, D. A., Milligan, G., Willer, E., Buckley, N. J. and Caulfield, M. P. (1995). Bradykinin excites rat sympathetic neurons by inhibition of M current through a mechanism involving B2 receptors and Gaq/11. Neuron 14, 399-405.
Caulfield, M. P., Jones, S., Vallis, Y., Buckley, N. J., Kim, G. D., Milligan, G. and Brown, D. A. (1994). Muscarinic M-current inhibition via Gaq/11 and a-adrenoceptor inhibition of Ca2+ current via Gao in rat sympathetic neurones. J. Physiol. 477 415-422.
Cloues, R., Jones, S. and Brown, D. A. (1992). Zn2+ potentiates ATP-activated currents in rat sympathetic neurons. Pfluegers Arch. 424 152-158.
