A5035857967- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Genomics and Rare Diseases
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer
- Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans research
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Nerve injury and regeneration
Janelia Research Campus
2014-2025
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
2014-2025
Helix (United States)
2015-2022
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
2007-2018
Wienerberger (Czechia)
2010
Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie
2010
Institute of Molecular Biotechnology
2004-2009
Austrian Academy of Sciences
2005-2009
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
2004
University of Zurich
2001
The epigenetic modification of chromatin structure and its effect on complex neuronal processes like learning memory is an emerging field in neuroscience. However, little known about the "writers" epigenome how they lay down basis for proper cognition. Here, we have dissected function Drosophila euchromatin histone methyltransferase (EHMT), a member conserved protein family that methylates 3 at lysine 9 (H3K9). EHMT widely expressed nervous system other tissues, yet mutant flies are viable....
Animals consolidate some, but not all, learning experiences into long-term memory. Across the animal kingdom, sleep has been found to have a beneficial effect on consolidation of recently formed memories storage. However, underlying mechanisms dependent memory are poorly understood. Here, we show that courtship in Drosophila is mediated by reactivation during dopaminergic neurons were earlier involved acquisition. We identify specific fan-shaped body induce after experience and activate for...
Abstract Localization of mRNAs to neuronal terminals, coupled local translation, has emerged as a prevalent mechanism controlling the synaptic proteome. However, physiological regulation and function this process in context mature vivo memory circuits remained unclear. Here, we combined synaptosome RNA profiling with whole brain high-resolution imaging uncover different localization patterns axons Drosophila Mushroom Body neurons, some exhibiting regionalized, input-dependent, recruitment...
Long-term memory and synaptic plasticity are thought to require the synthesis of new proteins at activated synapses. The CPEB family RNA binding proteins, including Drosophila Orb2, has been implicated in this process. precise mechanism by which these molecules regulate formation is however poorly understood. We used gene targeting site-specific transgenesis specifically modify endogenous orb2 order investigate its role long-term formation. show that Orb2A Orb2B isoforms, while both...
Genetic screens in Drosophila melanogaster and other organisms have been pursued to filter the genome for genetic functions important memory formation. Such employed primarily chemical or transposon-mediated mutagenesis identified numerous mutants including classical mutants, dunce rutabaga. Here, we report results of a large screen using panneuronal RNAi expression identify additional genes critical We >500 that compromise when inhibited (low hits), either by disrupting development normal...
To adapt to an ever-changing environment, animals consolidate some, but not all, learning experiences long-term memory. In mammals, memory consolidation often involves neural pathway reactivation hours after acquisition. It is known whether this delayed-reactivation schema common across the animal kingdom or how information stored during delay period. Here, we show that, courtship suppression learning, Drosophila exhibits delayed consolidation. We also that same class of dopaminergic neurons...
Recurrent connections are thought to be a common feature of the neural circuits that encode memories, but how memories laid down in such is not fully understood. Here we present evidence courtship memory Drosophila relies on recurrent circuit between mushroom body gamma (MBγ), M6 output, and aSP13 dopaminergic neurons. We demonstrate persistent neuronal activity neurons show it transiently potentiates synaptic transmission from MBγ>M6 turn provide input neurons, prolonging potentiation...
Slit proteins steer the migration of many cell types through their binding to Robo receptors, but how controls motility is not clear. We describe functional analysis vilse , a Drosophila gene required for repulsion in epithelial cells and axons. Vilse defines conserved family RhoGAPs (Rho GTPase-activating proteins), with representatives flies vertebrates. The phenotypes mutants resemble tracheal axonal at CNS midline. Dosage-sensitive genetic interactions between vilse, slit robo suggest...
Significance Local protein synthesis is a highly used mechanism to create functional asymmetries within cells. It underlies diverse biological processes, including the development and function of nervous reproductive systems. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding (CPEB) proteins regulate local translation in early development, synaptic plasticity, long-term memory. However, their binding specificity not fully resolved. We transcriptome-wide approach established that Drosophila...
Many insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory have been elucidated through use of simple behavioral assays in model organisms such as fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. is useful for understanding basic neurobiology cognitive deficits resulting from mutations genes associated with human disorders, intellectual disability (ID) autism. This work describes a methodology testing using classic paradigm known courtship conditioning. Male flies court females distinct...
Animals retain some but not all experiences in long-term memory (LTM). Sleep supports LTM retention across animal species. It is well established that learning enhance post-learning sleep. However, the underlying mechanisms of how mediates sleep for are clear. Drosophila males display increased amounts after courtship learning. Courtship depends on Mushroom Body (MB) neurons, and mediated by sleep-promoting ventral Fan-Shaped neurons (vFBs). We show regulated two opposing output (MBONs) from...
NDST1 was recently proposed as a candidate gene for autosomal recessive intellectual disability in two families. It encodes bifunctional GlcNAc N‐deacetylase/N‐sulfotransferase with important functions heparan sulfate biosynthesis. In mice, Ndst1 is crucial embryonic development and homozygous null mutations are perinatally lethal. We now report on additional unrelated families missense mutations. All described to date predict the substitution of conserved amino acids sulfotransferase...
ABSTRACT Members of the AF4/FMR2 family nuclear proteins are involved in human diseases such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia and mental retardation. Here we report identification characterization Drosophila lilliputian (lilli) gene, which encodes a protein related to mammalian AF4 FMR2. Mutations lilli suppress excessive neuronal differentiation response constitutively active form Raf eye. In wild type, Lilli has partially redundant function Ras/MAPK pathway but it is essential for normal...
ABSTRACT Photoreceptors in the Drosophila eye project their axons retinotopically to targets optic lobe of brain. The photoreceptor cells R1-R6 terminate first ganglion, lamina, while R7 and R8 through lamina distinct layers second medulla. Here we report identification gene brakeless (bks) show that its function is required developing specifically for targeting axons. In mosaic animals lacking bks eye, Other aspects visual system development appear completely normal: cell fates are...
Many insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory have been elucidated through use of simple behavioral assays in model organisms such as fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. is useful for understanding basic neurobiology cognitive deficits resulting from mutations genes associated with human disorders, intellectual disability (ID) autism. This work describes a methodology testing using classic paradigm known courtship conditioning. Male flies court females distinct...