Molecular mechanism of dendritic arbor stability and its relation to mood disorders

Project number:

POIR.04.04.00-00-5CBE/17-00

Title:

Molecular mechanism of dendritic arbor stability and its relation to mood disorders

Project leader:

Jacek Jaworski, PhD, Professor
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Co-PI – Małgorzata Urbańska, PhD
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Team members:

Juan Zeng (PhD student), Magdalena Mlostek (PhD student), Marcelina Firkowska (Research technician)

Duration:

01.11.2018–29.01.2022

About the project:             

Neurons receive information from other cells and their morphology remains intact for 80% of neuron's lifetime. Little is known about molecular mechanisms underlying dendrite stability. The first objective of the proposed research is to identify RNAs and proteins underlying mature dendritic arbors' stability. Dendritic arbors destabilize in mood disorders, e.g., depression. Therefore the second objective of this proposal is to identify chemicals or drugable targets which support dendrite stability under stress conditions. In the Objective 1, we aim to analyze differences in RNA and protein expression between developing and mature neurons, and neurons with induced dendritic instability. Next, we will functionally test, which of those proteins are involved in dendrite stabilization. In the Objective 2 we identify, via chemical compound screening, drugs preventing induced dendritic arbor simplification that will be next tested for antidepressant activity in fish and mouse