Changes in the expression of particular genes occur in response to physiological and psychological stimuli, and also during pathological states. Our aim is to understand the complex regulatory mechanisms which mediate these changes. Another project in the laboratory concerns genomic imprinting, a phenomenon in which certain genes retain a molecular memory of their maternal or paternal origin, resulting in differential expression.
Imprinting abnormalities underlie several human genetic diseases.
In order to fully understand the functional interactions of multiple physiological, and ultimately molecular, factors it is necessary to study neuronal plasticity at the organismal level. We make extensive use of genetic models and have generated many novel of lines of transgenics within our managed transgenic facility. By designing transgenics with specific genetic mutations we hope to provide important insights into neuronal function, and neurological disease. Modulation of cellular AP-1 DNA binding activity by heat shock proteins. Polyadenylation and control of neuroendocrine gene expression.