A5063379383- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Connexins and lens biology
- Congenital heart defects research
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
- Congenital Ear and Nasal Anomalies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- Tracheal and airway disorders
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
- Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
- Neurogenetic and Muscular Disorders Research
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Cardiomyopathy and Myosin Studies
- Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics
North Carolina State University
2018-2024
Washington University in St. Louis
2023
University of Pennsylvania
2015-2021
North Central State College
2020-2021
Philadelphia University
2017
University of Oxford
2012
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
2007-2011
Sarah Lawrence College
2004
Yeshiva University
2004
The trafficking of postsynaptic AMPA receptors (AMPARs) is a powerful mechanism for regulating the strength excitatory synapses. It has become clear that surface levels inhibitory GABA A (GABA Rs) are also subject to regulation and R may contribute plasticity, although underlying mechanisms not fully understood. Here, we report NMDA receptor activation, which been shown drive long-term depression through AMPAR endocytosis, simultaneously increases expression Rs at dendritic hippocampal...
Ca 2+ /Calmodulin protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) has a central role in regulating neuronal excitability. It is well established that CaMKIIα translocates to excitatory synapses following strong glutamatergic stimuli induce NMDA-receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term potentiation CA1 hippocampal neurons. We now show inhibitory but not response more moderate NMDAR-activating trigger GABA A -receptor (GABA R) insertion and enhance transmission. Such NMDAR activation causes Thr286...
Exposure to repetitive startling stimuli induces habitation, a simple form of learning. Despite its simplicity, the precise cellular mechanisms by which repeated stimulation converts robust behavioral response indifference are unclear. Here, we use head-restrained zebrafish larvae monitor subcellular Ca2+ dynamics in Mauthner neurons, startle command during habituation vivo. Using reporter GCaMP6s, find that amplitude signals lateral dendrite neuron determines probability and depression this...
Sensory experiences dynamically modify whether animals respond to a given stimulus, but it is unclear how innate behavioral thresholds are established. Here, we identify molecular and circuit-level mechanisms underlying the threshold of zebrafish startle response. From forward genetic screen, isolated five mutant lines with reduced thresholds. Using whole-genome sequencing, causative mutation for one line be in fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP)-interacting cyfip2. We show that...
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the benchmark molecular markers for modern genomics. Until recently, relatively few SNPs were known in zebrafish genome. The use of next-generation sequencing positional cloning mutations has increased number SNP positions dramatically. Still, identified variants remain under-utilized, owing to scant annotation strain specificity and allele frequency. To address these limitations, we surveyed variation three common laboratory strains using...
Neural network function is based upon the patterns and types of connections made between neurons. Neuronal synapses are adhesions specialized for communication they come in two types, chemical electrical. Communication at occurs via neurotransmitter release whereas electrical utilize gap junctions direct ionic metabolic coupling. Electrical often viewed as symmetrical structures, with same components making both sides junction. By contrast, we show that a broad set zebrafish, Danio rerio,...
Electrical synaptic transmission relies on neuronal gap junctions containing channels constructed by Connexins. While at chemical synapses neurotransmitter-gated ion are critically supported scaffolding proteins, it is unknown if electrical require similar scaffold support. Here, we investigated the functional relationship between Connexins and Zonula Occludens 1 (ZO1), an intracellular protein localized to synapses. Using model in zebrafish Mauthner cells, demonstrated that ZO1 required for...
A critical function of the nervous system is to rapidly process sensory information and initiate appropriate behavioral responses. Defects in processing behavior selection are commonly observed neuro-psychiatric conditions including anxiety, autism (ASD), schizophrenia. The etiology disorders remains equivocal; however, it hypothesized that extrinsic environmental factors can play fundamental roles. In this study we examine importance vitamin D (1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) receptor signaling...
The larval zebrafish is a highly versatile model across research disciplines, and the expanding use of behavioral analysis has contributed to many advances in neuropsychiatric, developmental, toxicological studies, often through large-scale chemical genetic screens. In absence standardized approaches behavior analysis, however, it critical understand impact on experimental variables such as size testing arenas choice embryo medium. Using custom-built, modular high-throughput system, we...
Exposure to toxins produced by cyanobacteria (ie, cyanotoxins) is an emerging health concern due their increasing prevalence and previous associations with neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The objective of this study was evaluate the neurotoxic effects a mixture two co-occurring cyanotoxins, β-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) microcystin leucine arginine (MCLR), using larval zebrafish model. We combined high-throughput behavior-based toxicity assays discovery...
Exposure to cyanotoxins has been linked neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. While the cyanotoxin β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) received much attention, cyanobacteria produce many cyanotoxic compounds, several of which have detected in nature alongside BMAA, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (2,4-DAB) N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine (AEG). Thus, question whether 2,4-DAB AEG also cause neurotoxic effects vivo is great interest, as they...
The acoustic startle response is an evolutionarily conserved avoidance behavior. Disruptions in behavior, particularly magnitude, are a hallmark of several human neurological disorders. While the neural circuitry underlying behavior has been studied extensively, repertoire genes and genetic pathways that regulate this locomotor not explored using unbiased approach. To identify such genes, we took advantage stereotypic zebrafish larvae performed forward screen coupled with whole genome...
The ryanodine receptor (RyR)1 isoform of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release channel is an essential component all skeletal muscle fibers. RyR1s are detectable as “junctional feet” (JF) in gap between SR and plasmalemma or T-tubules, they required for excitation–contraction (EC) coupling differentiation. A second isoform, RyR3, does not sustain EC differentiation absence RyR1 expressed at highly variable levels. Anatomically, RyR3 expression correlates with presence parajunctional...
Abstract To reconnect with their synaptic targets, severed axons need to regrow robustly and directionally along the pre-lesional trajectory. While mechanisms directing axonal regrowth are poorly understood, several proteins direct developmental axon outgrowth, including ubiquitin ligase PHR (Mycbp2). Invertebrate also limits of injured axons, whereas its role in vertebrate remains elusive. Here we took advantage high capacity spinal zebrafish observed robust directional following laser...
Abstract CHARGE syndrome is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by spectrum of defects affecting multiple tissues and behavioral difficulties such as autism, attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive–compulsive anxiety, sensory deficits. Most cases arise from de novo , loss‐of‐function mutations in chromodomain‐helicase‐DNA‐binding‐protein‐7 (CHD7). CHD7 required for processes neuronal differentiation neural crest cell migration, but how affects circuit function to regulate...
Axons navigate through the embryo to construct a functional nervous system. A missing part of axon navigation puzzle is how single traverses distinct anatomic choice points its navigation. The dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons experience such points. First, they entry zone (DREZ), then halt in peripheral system invade spinal cord, and reinitiate inside CNS. Here, we used time-lapse super-resolution imaging zebrafish DRG pioneer investigate embryonic axons control their cytoskeleton at...