What do we do?

Neurons communicate with each other through chemical and electrical synapses. At chemical synapses, the presynaptic nerve terminal releases neurotransmitters, which bind to postsynaptic receptors to control the function of postsynaptic cells. At electrical synapses, neurons communicate through intercellular channels known as gap junctions. Precise controls of neurotransmitter release and of gap junction gating are crucial to the proper function of the nervous system.

The goals of this lab are:

1. In vestigate how melatonin regulates neurotransmitter and sleep behavior by activating the BK channel.

2. Investigate how chemical synapses and electrical synapses (gap junctions) interplay to produce locomotory and sensory behaviors

3. Discover novel presynaptic regulators of neurotransmitter release using a forward genetics approach with C. elegans.

4. Investigate the functions and regulatory mechanisms of the BK channel, gap junctions, and presenilins.

5. Determine how mutations of the genes that we study might contribute human diseases.