Dr. Huganir's laboratory is interested in the mechanisms that regulate synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. The general approach they have taken is to study molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate neurotransmitter receptors. These receptors mediate the response of neurons to neurotransmitters released at synapses and are a central convergence point for transmission of signals between neurons. Modulation of the function of these receptors is a powerful and efficient way to modulate synaptic communication and synaptic plasticity. Over the years they have shown that receptor protein phosphorylation and the regulation of the synaptic targeting of receptors are dynamically regulated and regulate the efficiency of synaptic transmission. They are currently focusing their efforts on the mechanisms that underlie the regulation of the glutamate receptors, the major excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. These receptors are neurotransmitter-dependent ion channels that allow ions to pass through the neuronal cell membrane, resulting in the excitation of neuronal activity.

Selected Publications:

Sia GM, Beique JC, Rumbaugh G, Cho R, Worley PF, Huganir RL. Interaction of the N-terminal domain of the AMPA receptor GluR4 subunit with the neuronal pentraxin NP1 mediates GluR4 synaptic recruitment. Neuron. 2007 Jul 5;55(1):87-102.

Boehm J, Kang MG, Johnson RC, Esteban J, Huganir RL, Malinow R. Synaptic incorporation of AMPA receptors during LTP is controlled by a PKC phosphorylation site on GluR1. Neuron. 2006 Jul 20;51(2):213-25.

Steinberg JP, Takamiya K, Shen Y, Xia J, Rubio ME, Yu S, Jin W, Thomas GM, Linden DJ, Huganir RL. Targeted in vivo mutations of the AMPA receptor subunit GluR2 and its interacting protein PICK1 eliminate cerebellar long-term depression. Neuron. 2006 Mar 16;49(6):845-60.

Rumbaugh, G., Adams, J.P., Kim J.H., Huganir, R.L. (2006) SynGAP Regulates Synaptic Strength and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases in Cultured Neurons. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 103(12): 4344-51.

Hayashi T, Rumbaugh G, Huganir RL. Differential regulation of AMPA receptor subunit trafficking by palmitoylation of two distinct sites. Neuron. 2005 Sep 1;47(5):709-23.

Kim CH, Takamiya K, Petralia RS, Sattler R, Yu S, Zhou W, Kalb R, Wenthold R, Huganir R. Persistent hippocampal CA1 LTP in mice lacking the C-terminal PDZ ligand of GluR1. Nat Neurosci. 2005 Aug;8(8):985-7.

For more information see our website -http://neuroseries.info.nih.gov