BORODINSKY LAB

CURRENT RESEARCH

Synaptogenesis is a multistep developmental process that relies on several early phases for its realization. Neurons need to produce the transmitter(s) that will enable them to communicate synaptically with other neurons or target organs. Axons must grow out and reach the appropriate target cells. Our lab is interested on understanding how these early events are shaped by electrical activity.

We are interested in investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which activity controls the development of the nervous system. Different forms of activity (Movie 1) are present at early stages of development, substantially before synapse formation, suggesting that neuronal activity participates in early steps of differentiation. Neurotransmitter and neurotransmitter receptor specification, axonal pathfinding, synapse formation and function are some of the aspects of nervous system development we are currently studying.

Our lab works on Xenopus laevis (Movie 2) as a model system using a combination of methodologies including confocal microscopy, immunostaining, molecular biology, pharmacology, calcium and voltage sensistive dyes imaging and electrophysiology.