*********************************
There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
*********************************
Summary Sentence: A Biological Sciences Seminar by Isabella Farhy-Tselnicker, Ph.D.
Full Summary: No summary paragraph submitted.
Isabella Farhy-TselnickerIsabella Farhy-Tselnicker, Ph.D
Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
ABSTRACT
Correct establishment of neuronal synapses during development is crucial for proper brain function. Synaptic deficits have been linked to neurological disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, however, the underlying cellular mechanisms are still poorly understood. Astrocytes, a major type of glial cells, play a key role in synaptogenesis by secreting factors that regulate multiple aspects of synapse formation and function. To find novel treatment avenues, it is critical to identify the mechanisms of astrocyte-neuron communication that regulate synapse formation under normal and pathological conditions.
In this talk I describe my recently published findings, identifying the mechanism by which the astrocyte secreted factor, Glypican 4, induces formation of active synapses. I further describe my ongoing work investigating the regulation of astrocyte derived synapse-promoting genes expression by neuronal and astrocyte activity. My findings provide important insights into the complex interaction between astrocytes and neurons in the developing brain, and establish a framework for future studies of astrocyte roles at the synapse.
Host: Matthew Torres, Ph.D.
