Topic: Neuronal signaling

In the adult brain, synapses are tightly enwrapped by lattices of extracellular matrix that consist of extremely long-lived molecules. These lattices are deemed to stabilize synapses, restrict the reorganization of their transmission machinery, and prevent them from undergoing structural or morphological changes. At the same time, they are expected to retain some degree of flexibility to permit occasional events of synaptic plasticity. The recent understanding that structural changes to synapses are significantly more frequent than previously assumed (occurring even on a timescale of minutes)

While it is generally accepted that neurons control complex behavior and brain computation, the role of non-neuronal cells in this context remains unclear. Astrocytes, glial cells of the central nervous system, exhibit complex forms of chemical excitation, most prominently calcium transients, evoked by local and projection neuron activity. In this talk, I will provide mechanistic links between astrocytes’ spatiotemporally complex activity patterns, neuronal molecular signaling, and behavior. Using a visual detection task, in vivo calcium imaging, robust statistical analyses, and machine learni

Large genomic studies of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have revealed approximately 100-200 high risk genes. However, whether these genes function in similar or different signaling networks in brain cells (neurons) remains poorly studied. We are using proteomic technology to build an ASD-associated signaling network map as a resource for the Autism research community. This resource can be used to study Autism risk genes and understand how pathways are convergent, and how patient mutations change the interaction profile. In this presentation, we will present how we developed