An up-to-date list of publications can be found here
Publication Highlights
Opto-seq reveals input-specific immediate early gene induction in ventral tegmental area cell types (preprint)
The ventral tegmental area, home to many dopamine neurons, receives synaptic input from many brain regions. Here we combined optogenetics with snRNAseq to identify specific populations of VTA neurons activated by stimulation of specific inputs. We also found differential expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) in different cell types and were able to correlate the expression of specific ion channel genes with IEG activation in dopamine neurons.
Circuit coordination of opposing neuropeptide and neurotransmitter signals (Nature)
Many neurons co-release both fast neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. We used CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis to dissect a GABA/neurotensin circuit from the lateral hypothalamus to the ventral tegmental area and showed that co-released inhibitory GABA and excitatory neurotensin act on different time scales via different VTA cell types to promote dopamine neuron firing and maximize reinforcement.
The potassium channel auxiliary subunit Kvβ2 (Kcnab2) regulates Kv1 channels and dopamine neuron firing (J. Neurophys)
Ion channels consist not only of pore-forming subunits, but also of auxiliary subunits that can regulate trafficking as well as channel properties. We found that in dopamine neurons the auxiliary potassium channel subunit Kvβ2 regulates the surface expression of Kv1 channels and shifts the voltage dependence of inactivation, altering potassium currents and shaping the action potential waveform