Sleep deprivation impairs protein synthesis, the building blocks, required for memory formation. Expression of 4EBP2 AAV is able to prevent this impairment.
Available Projects
SD and translation
Sleep deprivation (SD) impairs protein synthesis in the brain by specifically affecting the AMPK-mTORC1-4EBP2 axis. This project examines how sleep deprivation affects raptor signaling in the brain, which is part of the mTORC1 signaling pathway.
4EBP2 and memory
We have made several viral vectors that express mutant 4EBP2 in mouse brain. This project examines how expression of mutant 4EBP2 affects cognition and behavior with sleep deprivation.
AMPK and SD
Given that sleep deprivation increases AMPK signaling, we will examine the effect of AMPK modulating drugs on memory loss due to sleep deprivation.
FXS and behavior
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) patients have several behavioral impairments. We are currently analyzing a mouse model of FXS to determine if it recapitulates many of these behavioral phenotypes.
FXS and metformin
Metformin is a drug that increases AMPK signaling, which is reduced in FXS. We are examining if it is an effective pharmaceutical agent to rescue the behavioral impairments in a mouse model of FXS.
Sleep admin
In a collaborative project with Dr. Christelle Anaclet, we are examining if pharmacogenetically administering sleep in mice increases protein synthesis and memory.
Immunohistochemistry of adeno-associated virus injected into hippocampus of mouse brain