Research Groups

Neurobiology

Research Interests and Description

Group Leader: Fabian Feiguin, MD, PhD

Group Members

Research Interests

Mechanisms of neuronal differentiation, aging, genetic models of neurodegenerative diseases using Drosophila melanogaster

Description of Research

Brain functioning requires that neurons differentiate their cytoplasm into axons and dendrites during development as well as maintain these structures throughout the adult life. How are these processes regulated? How do neurons make axons different from dendrites? How do they steadily sustain these structures during adulthood? And how are they affected by aging or in pathological situations like Alzheimer's disease? To find answers to these questions the Group has turned to the fruit-fly, Drosophila melanogaster. While the fly's nervous system is far less complex than that of humans, the molecular machinery that regulates neuronal differentiation, aging and death appear to be remarkably similar. The laboratory is applying the powerful genetics of Drosophila melanogaster to identify the genes and mechanisms involved in these events.

Recent Publications

Feiguin, F., Godena, V.K., Romano, G., D'Ambrogio, A., Klima, R., Baralle, F.E. 2009. Depletion of TDP-43 affects Drosophila motoneurons terminal synapsis and locomotive behaviour. FEBS Lett 583, 1586-1592

Marcucci, R., Romano, M., Feiguin, F., O'Connell, M.A., Baralle, F.E. 2009. Dissecting the splicing mechanism of the Drosophila editing enzyme; dADAR. Nucleic Acids Res 37, 1663-1671

Herranz, H., Stamataki, E., Feiguin, F., Milan, M. 2006. Self-refinement of Notch activity through the transmembrane protein Crumbs: modulation of gamma-Secretase activity. EMBO Rep. 7, 297-302

de Anda, F.C., Pollarolo, G., Santos Da Silva, J., Camoletto, P., Feiguin, F., Dotti, C.G. 2005. Centrosome localization determines neuronal polarity. Nature 436, 704-708

Hannus, M., Feiguin, F., Heisenberg, C.P., Eaton, S. 2002. Planar cell polarization requires Widerborst, a B' regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2A. Development 129 (14), 3493-3503

Feiguin, F., Hannus, M., Mlodzik, M., Eaton, S. 2001. The ankyrin repeat protein Diego mediates Frizzled-dependent planar polarization. Developmental Cell 1, 93-101