The aim of the project is to gain more insight into the function of the alpha-4 GABAA receptor by the deep examination of subunit expression in the brain and spinal cord of zebrafish. The in-situ hybridization procedure done previously (Monesson-Olson et al., 2018), allowed the visualization of six subunit expression patterns, including that of alpha-4. This gave a rough picture of subunit function. Since the mutation screen revealed interesting alpha-4 subunit activity, further analysis is required. Conducting this fluorescent in-situ hybridization procedure will allow me to identify not just where the alpha-4 subunit is expressed but also what structures it interacts with. Knowing what the alpha-4 subunit interacts with will aid in predicting its function. By extension, this will provide a framework for developing treatments that can suppress the effects of related neurological disorders like epilepsy.
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