# Role of Translin/Trax in Dopamine Signaling

> **NIH NIH P50** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $376,722

## Abstract

Project Summary - Baraban
 Identification of more effective strategies to prevent and treat drug addiction is critically
dependent on advances in deciphering the signaling pathways that mediate and regulate the behavioral
effects of drugs of abuse. Recent studies indicate that the microRNA system plays a prominent role in
this process. However, we are only beginning to understand its impact on neuronal signaling. In recent
studies, we have found that the translin/trax RNase complex mediates degradation of a subset of
microRNAs. Accordingly, to advance our understanding of the role of the microRNA system in
dopamine signaling, we have checked whether translin KO mice display altered behavioral responses
to cocaine.
 We have found that the ability of cocaine to increase locomotor activity is impaired in these
mice. Furthermore, microdialysis studies revealed that cocaine's ability to elevate DA in the nucleus
accumens is blunted in translin KO mice. In addition, fast scan cyclic voltammetry studies indicate that
translin deletion blocks cocaine's ability to potentiate evoked release of DA without interfering with its
ability to block the dopamine transporter. As recent studies have focused attention on the poorly
understood ability of cocaine to potentiate evoked DA release as playing a key role in mediating its
reinforcing properties, we plan to conduct studies aimed at understanding how translin deletion impairs
this effect. In particular, we will assess whether this phenotype is: 1) due to loss of translin/trax RNase
activity, and 2) due to loss of translin from DA neurons. Furthermore, we will use self-administration
assays to assess whether translin deletion impairs the reinforcing properties of cocaine.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9932397
- **Project number:** 5P50DA044123-03
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JAY M BARABAN
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $376,722
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9932397

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9932397, Role of Translin/Trax in Dopamine Signaling (5P50DA044123-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9932397. Licensed CC0.

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