Skip to content Skip to navigation

Generating stochastic gene choices and transforming them to deterministic axon guidance programs - Stavros Lomvardas

May 6, 2021 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Zoom

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute Seminar Series Presents

Stavros Lomvardas, PhD 

Professor of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Brain Science,  Columbia University, New York

Host: Nirao Shah

Abstract

The mammalian olfactory system provides a unique example of transcriptional diversity highlighted by the monogenic and monoallelic expression of olfactory receptor (OR) genes. This singular choice is essential for olfactory perception, as it determines both the receptive field of the olfactory neuron and the targeting specificity of its axon. We identified mechanisms that allow only one of the ~2000 OR alleles to be transcribed in each neuron, as well as mechanisms that bias this choice towards specific OR repertoires along the dorsoventral axis of the olfactory epithelium. Finally, we present a novel mechanism that converts the overall stochastic OR gene choice into precise and stereotypic axon targeting outcomes.

Event Sponsor: 
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Contact Email: 
neuroscience@stanford.edu
Contact Phone: 
650-723-3573

This event is part of: