Research Questions That Have Our Attention
Acetylcholinergic Neurotransmission
We are taking advantage of an excellent collection of genetic and molecular tools available in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and a wide array of approaches including biochemistry, behavior, light & electron microscopy, and electrophysiology to address these questions.
Acetylcholinergic Neurotransmission
- What precise roles do changes in acetylcholine release play on synaptic physiology and behavior?
- How does the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) regulate acetylcholine synaptic release?
- What role does the cholinergic system in the central nervous system play in regulating cognition during the aging process?
- How do the interactions between genes and the environment predispose certain individuals to Parkinson's disease?
- What is the neurotoxic potential of combinations of commonly-used pesticides and how can we use Drosophila to find out?
- What's the deal with alpha synuclein and synaptic vesicles in PD pathology anyway?
We are taking advantage of an excellent collection of genetic and molecular tools available in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and a wide array of approaches including biochemistry, behavior, light & electron microscopy, and electrophysiology to address these questions.