Kubera Lab
Research Projects
Studying the influence of Cell Signaling on Neuron Development
Neurons go through several phases during development: proliferation, differentiation, migration, integration and survival. Many signaling factors, both outside and inside the cell, contribute to the success of overall neuronal maturation. The goals of ongoing work in the Kubera lab include identifying the roles of two such signaling factors and characterize how they contribute to the various phases of development.
Project 1: mTOR & cell development
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a protein that plays a number of important roles during development as a regulator of protein translation, cell growth and proliferation. Increased mTOR activity in granule cell precursors in culture leads to enhanced neurite length and complexity, which can ultimately impact circuit formation. This project focuses on examining the interactions of mTOR with calcium and other signaling molecules underpinning neuron process extension and migration using techniques such as quantitative PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and microscopy.
Project 2: GABA & cell proliferation
In regions of neurogenesis like the subventricular zone, the neurotransmitter GABA has been shown to control the rate of proliferation in stem cells. In granule cell culture, application of GABA has also been shown to stimulate proliferation. However, whether GABA regulates granule cell precursor proliferation in vivo is unknown. In this project, we aim to identify small-inhibiting RNAs that successfully knock down expression of GABA receptor subunits. These will then be used in developing chick embryo brain to assess the role of GABA in neuronal proliferation.