Kinase signaling pathways in neuronal dendrite development

Research opportunity for a postdoctoral clinical fellow in Sila Ultanir's lab.    

Introduction

We work on kinase signalling mechanisms that regulate neuronal development and function. We use chemical genetics and mass spectrometry methods to identify novel kinase substrates, defining new regulatory mechanisms, for example affecting microtubule dynamics or membrane trafficking.

Using transgenic mouse models we investigate how kinases and their substrates contribute to neuronal differentiation and synapse formation. We particularly focus on kinases with genetic associations to neurological disorders, such as CDKL5 deficiency disorder.

Regulation of membrane trafficking and protein clearance pathways by kinase signaling Conserved Nuclear Dbf2 related (NDR) kinases regulate polarization and morphogenesis in organisms from yeast to mammals. NDR kinases regulate neuronal differentiation in rodents and neuronal homeostasis by regulating membrane trafficking pathways. Direct substrates of NDR1/2 kinases have been previously determined using chemical genetic kinase substrate identification method. Defects in membrane trafficking pathways is implicated in neurodegeneration. Currently, we are motivated to pursue an investigation using postmortem neurodegenerative disease and human IPSC derived neurons of neurodegenerative models to specifically determine possible alterations of NDR kinase mediated membrane trafficking events in neurodegeneration in humans.