Circadian period integrates network information through activation of the BMP signaling pathway

CERIANI, MF

Tunuyán, Mendoza

Workshop; ¨Molecular basis of circadian rhythmicity¨ asociado al XXII Latin American Symposium on Chronobiology; 2013

Simposio Latinoamericano de Cronobiología (LASC)

The long-term goal of our lab is to understand the molecular and cellular basis of behavior and how this relationship changes throughout life. Specifically, we are interested in unraveling how specific subsets of circadian pacemakers in the Drosophila brain encode ¨time of day¨ information and thus achieve coherence within the network. Through forward genetic screens we have identified not only novel neurotransmitters relevant in such communication but also retrograde signaling pathways that help establish the daily period of locomotor behavior. In addition we are exploring the contribution of the daily remodeling of axonal terminals of a specific subset of pacemaker neurons as an alternative means of transmitting time-relevant cues.