Dr Frederic Meunier

Botox, better known for its use in smoothing facial wrinkles, is playing an important role in UQ research on nerve cell communication.

The research is exploring basic nerve-cell function, minute changes which underlie memory and learning, and possible causes of nerve diseases.

Dr Frederic Meunier, a lecturer in UQ’s School of Biomedical Sciences, is studying basic physiological processes at the molecular level.

As one strategy, he is taking advantage of the selectivity of powerful nerve toxins such as botox or glycerotoxin to dissect basic nerve cell (neuronal) processes in Australian Research Council funded research.

“Botox derives from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism,” he said.

“Botox is increasingly used in human therapy to treat such conditions as cross-eyes; voice, head and limb tremor; spasticity; stuttering; and for painful rigidity.

“I have been using different types of toxins to explore the interplay of proteins and lipids (fats) when nerve cells communicate via the release of neurotransmitters in a process called vesicular exocytosis.”

Dr Meunier and his colleagues have discovered botox-intoxicated nerve cells do not die.

Instead, they start to emit little sprouts which ultimately allow recovery of the nerve cell.

His $80,000 UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award project is aimed at understanding the role of phosphate-containing fats in the process.

• Dr Frederic Meunier www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/meunierf1.html

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