Research Description

Our research efforts are focused on understanding the spinal motor circuits. These circuits include motor neurons and spinal sensory neurons that project into the peripheral nerves and innervate different muscles in the body. These neurons and their axons are the primary target of many demyelinating and neurodegenerative diseases.

We are particularly intrigued by the observation that in most patients, the disease affects only some neurons and nerves. This observation suggests that many neurons are naturally resistant to pathological changes following insult. Molecular biology provides powerful tools to understand selective vulnerability and also natural resistance of different neurons to the disease causing agents. Dr. Hiroshi Yajima, a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory, is using molecular and genetic techniques to study a relatively large gene family. These recently discovered molecules are called protocadherins. Hiroshi has developed reagents to study mRNA and protein expression of 36 members of this gene family. Hiroshi and an undergraduate student, Ms. Anushka Hauner, have found that these proteins are expressed in subsets of neurons in the spinal cord and the sensory ganglia. We are particularly encouraged by the observation that these proteins are highly concentrated in axons and dendrites of neurons in adult mice. With technical help from Ms. Aida Pourbovali and Charity Goodman, we are currently testing whether these proteins are important for motor and sensory functions of the spinal cord.