Research Areas

Our aim is to investigate, at the level of an individual nascent neuron, how differentiation pathways are initiated and directed to create diversity in neuron form and function.
Nervous system function is dependent upon carefully organized and intricate circuit architectures that are in turn assembled from a wide variety of neuron classes, each of which with characteristic morphological and physiological features. Even small alterations in neuron differentiation pathways can disrupt subsequent circuit organization, and catalyze the genesis of neurological disorders such as retardation syndromes, autism, and schizophrenia that cause exceptional individual suffering and have large social costs. However we still understand remarkably little about what happens in a newly formed neuron to select and guide neuron class-specific differentiation. To address this; our laboratory has focused on the following two fundamental questions:

Although a huge diversity of neuron classes is required for nervous system function, only a handful of signaling systems are used to generate this diversity. Signaling systems have extremely pleiotropic effects. Their final output is strongly dependent on the context in which they operate. The mechanisms that underlie this behavior are a key question in biology. Consequently we ask: How are outputs of the same signaling system altered in different neurogenetic contexts, thus leading to correct context-dependent initiation of class-specific differentiation programs?

Class-specific differentiation programs lead to distinct dendrite arbor morphologies and axonal projections, as well as particular sets of ion channels and transmitters. It is the combination of these features that creates the functional characteristics of any neuron class. This raises the question: How are neuron-differentiation processes translated into neuron class-specific morphologies and physiologies?

Research Subject

1. Control of dendrite morphology
2. The role of the PRDM oncogenes to define and maintain neural stem cell identity

Related links

1. RIKEN Brain Science Institute Website_Laboratories Page
2. Individual Website Laboratory Page

Press release

December 21, 2007

Brain branches have Knots and Cuts
RIKEN researchers elucidate mechanisms underlying brain connectivity

RIKEN RESEARCH

May 24, 2012

Hamlet sets the stage for neuronal development
A genetic 'reset switch' enables a signaling pathway to induce multiple developmental outcomes for olfactory neurons

May 16, 2008

How nerve cells are shaped
Discovery of molecules that sculpt nerve shape will assist in understanding nerve cell function and neurological disease