Research focus
Growth Factor Receptor Signaling and Biology in Nervous System Development and Metabolic Regulation
With a focus on growth factor receptor signaling, we investigate different aspects of nervous system development and metabolic regulation. Currently, our studies center on three different ligand/receptor systems:
- p75 neurotrophin receptor and neurotrophin family ligands
- GFRα1, Ret and NCAM receptors and GDNF family ligands
- TGF-β superfamily receptors ALK7 and ALK4 and their ligands Activins and GDFs.
Using these signaling systems as entry points, our goal is to discover novel, general biological principles of broad importance for nervous system development and metabolic functions.
Current topics of investigation
- Mechanism of p75NTR activation
- Generation and functional characterization of p75NTR signaling mutants
- Genetic approaches to elucidate p75NTR signaling functions in mutant mice
- Role of GDNF family signaling in the development of the mammalian olfactory system
- Role of GDNF family signaling in the development of the mammalian cerebellum
- Development and differentiation of cortical GABAergic interneurons
- Roles of activin signaling in brown and white adipocyte differentiation and fat homeostasis
- A chemical-genetic approach to study ALK4 and ALK7 signaling in metabolic regulation