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Project

The impact of the hominid-specific gene LRRC37B on neuronal and circuit function

The cerebral cortex has undergone remarkable evolution in the Homo lineage, resulting in enhanced cognitive abilities. Recent work has revealed that human cortical neurons display species-specific functional features. For instance, human neurons display a decreased excitability, but the underlying molecular mechanisms, and consequences for neural circuit function, remain largely unexplained. During my PhD, I will study the function of the LRRC37B gene, which was recently identified in my host lab as a human-specific regulator of cortical neuron excitability. On one hand, I will determine the molecular mechanisms of action of LRRC37B on functional properties of cortical neurons, using a reductionist in vitro model, followed by in vivo validation in the mouse cortex. On the other hand, I will generate and study a novel transgenic model of “humanized” expression of LRRC37B in the mouse cortex. Using this model, I will explore how the LRRC37B-dependent changes in cortical neurons can impact on cortical circuit properties and function, using as a model the visual cortex. This highly timely work will have potentially important implications for our understanding of brain function, evolution, and diseases.

Date:13 Sep 2021 →  Today
Keywords:cortial neurology
Disciplines:Cognitive neuroscience, Neurophysiology
Project type:PhD project