‘Tis the mind that makes the body rich”. Shakespeare.

NEUROGENESIS AND CELL FATE SPECIFICATION: The nervous system is composed of a great diversity of neural cell types that differ in their location, morphology, physiology, connectivity, and gene expression. How they arise is very much a key question of developmental neurobiology. We are interested in identifying the genetic regulators of neuronal birth, fate determination, and migration. We identified a role for the Cut-like proteins in the formation of distinct types of neurons in the developing spinal cord, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Current projects in the lab include investigating the role of novel intrinsic regulators of neurogenesis in the developing and postnatal brain. We are also studying how signalling pathways act in concert with intrinsic neurogenic regulators to promote cell fate acquisition.
MAINTENANCE OF THE NEURONAL HEALTH: Neurons are among the longest-lived cells and metabolically active of the nervous system. They must therefore have robust mechanisms to control stresses such as oxidative damage. Many neurodegenerative disorders arise from the inability to buffer stresses in neurons and glia. We are using lessons gleaned from developmental biology to explore how the developmental origins of neurodegeneration are related to the ability of brain to repair damage caused cytotoxic events.
EXPLORING THE MECHANISMS OF HEDGEHOG SIGNALLING DYNAMICS: The morphogenesis of the nervous system requires a careful balance of mitogenic pathways and patterning signals. One of the best-studied pathways involved in both of these processes in the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathways in vertebrates. Aberrations in Hedgehog signalling levels can lead to oncogenesis and congenital abnormalities. We identified a novel ethylnitrosourea (ENU)-induced mutation in the Hh receptor gene Patched-1 that alters Hh signalling levels and downstream events. We are using this mutant to exploring the cellular and biochemical pathways that contribute to the regulation of Hh signalling levels during neural development and oncogenesis.

 

Our work is funded by the following agencies:

  Neurogenesis and Repair | Iulianella Lab | angelo[dot]iulianella[at]dal[dot]ca