OUR RESEARCH

SEROTONIN AUTOREGULATION OF SEROTONERGIC AXON MORPHOLOGY

In vivo circuit analysis

In addition to its established role as a neurotransmitter, serotonin signaling via autoreceptors is believed to affect axon branch morphology during development. We are currently using genetic and pharmacological methods to tune serotonin levels during development. Doing so in Brainbow flies will allow us to reconstruct how these manipulations affect the final morphology of serotonergic axons.

SEROTONIN AUTOREGULATION OF SEROTONERGIC AXON MORPHOLOGY

In vitro intracellular analysis

While current methods for primary neuronal culture of Drosophila neurons are valuable for studying general cellular and molecular mechanisms of function, they often require the plating of neuroblasts or unidentified neuronal types. In order to tease apart the cellular mechanisms of serotonin autoregulation, however, we need to ensure neurons of interest are true serotonergic neurons. We are therefore developing methods that can yield differentiated serotonergic neurons in culture from the developing Drosophila embryo and/or larva.

SPATIAL PATTERNING OF SEROTONERGIC NEURONS

In vivo circuit analysis

Work by others suggests that serotonergic neurons use cell-autonomous mechanisms to establish their regions of innervation in the target neuropil, yet the mechanisms are as yet unidentified. We are combining Expansion Microscopy with Brainbow labeling in mutant flies to examine the genetic basis for axonal patterning in the Drosophila ventral nerve cord.