It’s taken me a while to finally get adjusted to the rhythm of life and school here in Budapest. This first post is long overdue, but this is the first real free moment I’ve had! Most of my posts here will be focused on biological and neuro concepts, but approaching them from a computer science framework. The relevant classes I’m taking in Budapest are as follows: Structure and Dynamics of Complex Networks, Advanced Algorithms for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and Medicine. I will try and use this blog to post some of the most interesting and relevant information that I learn from these classes.

In the beginning of my Comp Bio class, everyone chooses a gene that we will be working with for the rest of the semester. You can find a brief write-up of this gene below. In the coming weeks, we will be learning some genome manipulation techniques and gene visualization programming.

After a quick search on genecard.org for ‘receptor’, then specifically looking for neuroreceptors, I came across the DRD2 gene. The DRD2 gene encodes a subtype of the dopamine receptor, D2. This receptor is G protein-coupled, meaning it is a transmembrane receptor that senses the presence of molecules outside the cell and will activate a ‘cascade’ of events leading to internal cellular responses. The D2 receptor retards adenylyl cyclase activity, an enzyme that is activated when multiple different signals occur in parallel. Adenylyl cyclase is a catalyst in the conversion of ATP to cyclic AMP and pyrophosphate.

Splicing of this gene has resulted in two transcriptions, creating different isoforms of D2. In addition, regulation of D2R expression in mice has shown to control exploration, memory creation and synaptic plasticity. Older antipsychotic drugs are antagonists for the D2 receptor, meaning they would not trigger a chemical reaction upon binding, but instead would block agonists from binding to the receptor, dampening the agonists intended effect.

DRD2 has been associated with a multitude of diseases, what follows is just a short list of the highlights: PTSD, OCD, novelty seeking personality, manic-depressive illness, ADHD, Schizophrenia, Huntington’s and Antisocial personality disorder.
D2 interacts with three other proteins: EPB41L1 (mediates interactions between cytoskeleton and plasma membrane, binds to and stabilizes the D2 dopamine receptor at the neuronal plasma membrane), PPP1R9B (receive excitatory input) and NCS-1 (a neuronal calcium sensor that regulates synaptic transmission, nerve growth, memory, corticohippocampal plasticity). The attribute I find most fascinating is that increased levels of NCS-1 have resulted in increased spontaneous exploration in mice, perhaps indicating the role of NCS-1 with curiosity.