Research Directions
Using the fruit fly to understand ion channels in brain development
Neural ProgenitorsThe fruit fly is a powerful genetic model that has informed many important principles of brain development relevant to humans. The stem cells of the developing larval brain are called neuroblasts and share conserved molecules and patterns of development.
Using this well-defined model we can ask novel questions regarding: 1) Bioelectric influences on cell fate 2) Ion channel contributions to distinct stages of development 3) Molecular mechanisms of ion channel regulation and mis-regulation during disease |
Voltage-gated Sodium ChannelsOur recent work uncovered a role for the voltage-gated sodium channel, Para, in brain development and brain tumor models. The image above shows that knockout of para results in defective neural progenitor development and fewer progeny. Read more about it here:
Paralytic, the Drosophila voltage-gated sodium channel, regulates proliferation of neural progenitors. Piggott BJ, Peters CJ, He Y, Huang X, Younger S, Jan LY, Jan YN.Genes Dev. 2019 Dec 1;33(23-24):1739-1750. doi: 10.1101/gad.330597.119. Epub 2019 Nov 21. |
Future DirectionsChannelopathies or diseases involving ion channels span multiple ion channel families. They are associated with diseases including: developmental disorders, seizure susceptibility, and cancers among others.
(1) Use Drosophila melanogaster to identify new roles for ion channels in brain development. (2) Investigate how human ion channel mutations affect brain development and drive pathology. |