Metabolic Transformations of Purines of Biological Importance

   CONTENTS  

Foreword

Research Structures

Energy, Environment, and Biodiversity

Humanities and Ethics

Culture and Education

Society and Development

Information and Communication Technology

Biology and Health

Research Structures and Researchers

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The action of ATP and adenosine in the central nervous system

The mechanisms involved in seizures, stress, cognitive impairment, and neurodegenerative diseases have been the focus of the Research Group on Metabolic Transformations of Purines of Biological Importance. The researchers in this Group seek to understand the action of the molecules ATP and adenosine in the central nervous system and how the control of the levels of these molecules may be related to disease.

The Group, created in 1999, has been a pioneer in Brazil in the evaluation of the role of ATP and adenosine using zebrafish (Danio rerio), considered to be one of the most important models for biomedical studies. Enzymes able to modulate the levels of ATP and adenosine were identified in this experimental model. In addition, the potential of this enzymatic pathway as a target for the development of pharmaceutical agents and in the determination of neurotoxicity mechanisms has been evaluated.

Biochemical, molecular, and behavioral studies have generated national recognition for this research group, coordinated by Professor Carla Denise Bonan. The team has three faculty researchers and 20 undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students, who have written more than 130 articles published in international journals.

The group was awarded by the Support Program for the Centers of Excellence (Pronex), with PUCRS (School of Pharmacy), UFRGS, and FURG, seeking to establish a Center of Excellence in neurochemistry and psychopharmacology in zebrafish. One of the results of this project was the organization of the first LAZEN Zebrafish Course at PUCRS, with support from the Latin American Network of Zebrafish Studies (LAZEN) and the participation of students and researchers from Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador.

The next challenges involve the development of a new research group called ZebLab, which will join together the users of this experimental model, and the expansion of the infrastructure to maintain this model together with the Center for Experimental Biological Models of PUCRS.