Research Summary

My current research has focused on identifying synaptic mRNAs and developing tools to characterize the local translation of these transcripts. I now plan to use these tools to address the questions of what mRNAs are locally translated in response to neuronal activity, what are the signaling pathways that are necessary and sufficient for local translation and local insertion into the membrane, and finally how mRNAs are targeted to the appropriate subcellular location. Since information processing by a neuron is dependent on the number and distribution of ion channels and receptors on the plasma membrane, it is of great interest to identify the molecular mechanisms that alter the current density or affect the targeting of a protein. These experiments will yield insight into the normal and/or dysfunctional communication within neuronal networks in the brain.