The formation of precise neural circuits in the mammalian cerebral cortex requires coordinated, multistep cellular events including proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitors, production, migration, and maturation of neurons, and formation and remodeling of neural circuits. Using mice as a model animal, our group aims to understand the cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying the neural circuit formation in the mammalian cerebral cortex.
We are particularly interested in the developmental dynamics and physiological roles of "intracellular machineries", such as adhesion complex, signaling pathway, microtubules and organelles. Through in vivo visualization and manipulation of such machineries in cortical neural progenitors and neurons in mice, we try to untangle the complex yet sophisticated mechanisms of neocortical wiring. We also ask how the dysfunction of such intracellular machineries leads to cellular pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Our main approach is the "in vivo multi-scale analysis": we manipulate target genes in the living mouse brain, and examine its effects at molecular, organellar, anatomical, and functional, and behavioral levels. We use basic mouse genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and histology technics, as well as more advanced in vivo two-photon imaging, slice live imaging, single-cell CRISPR knockout, RNA-seq, and behavioral analysis.
Our on-going projects are:
1. Mechanisms of the neocortical layer formation during embryonic development
2. Mechanisms of the activity-dependent neural circuit refinement during postnatal development
3. Mechanisms of the cellular pathogenesis of the neurodeveopmental disorders