Speaker

Dr. Ai Nakashima  / Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science,  University of Tokyo

Title

Molecular mechanisms of odorant receptor-instructed neural map formation

The development of precise neural circuits is initially directed by genetic programming and subsequently refined by electrical neural activity. The most prevailing model for the activity-dependent development of neural circuits postulates the interaction between pre- and post-synaptic neurons. In Hebbian plasticity, the correlated activity of pre- and post-synaptic neurons strengthens synaptic connections, whereas uncorrelated or lack of activity weakens them. However, the olfactory map develops even in mutant mice lacking synaptic partners, suggesting another mechanism for the olfactory map formation.
In this meeting, we would like to propose a novel activity-dependent mechanism in which cell-type-specific patterned activity contributes to the olfactory map refinement through orchestrating gene expression of various axon-sorting molecules. We will further discuss how olfactory sensory neurons translate temporal dynamics of neural activity into specific gene expression patterns.

EDUCATION
Ph.D. University of Tokyo
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Advisor: Hitoshi Sakano, Ph.D.
Thesis: Agonist-Independent Receptor Activity Regulates Axon Targeting of Olfactory Sensory Neurons
 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Doctoral Researcher April 2006-March 2013
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tokyo
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Brain Function, University of Fukui, April 2013-March 2015
Advisor: Hitoshi Sakano, Ph.D.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo April, 2015- Oct 2015
Advisor: Yuji Ikegaya, Ph.D. and Haruki Takeuchi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor Nov 2015-present
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo
Advisor: Yuji Ikegaya, Ph.D. and Haruki Takeuchi, Ph.D.
The development of precise neural circuits is initially directed by genetic programming and subsequently refined by electrical neural activity. The most prevailing model for the activity-dependent development of neural circuits postulates the interaction between pre- and post-synaptic neurons. In Hebbian plasticity, the correlated activity of pre- and post-synaptic neurons strengthens synaptic connections, whereas uncorrelated or lack of activity weakens them. However, the olfactory map develops even in mutant mice lacking synaptic partners, suggesting another mechanism for the olfactory map formation.
In this meeting, we would like to propose a novel activity-dependent mechanism in which cell-type-specific patterned activity contributes to the olfactory map refinement through orchestrating gene expression of various axon-sorting molecules. We will further discuss how olfactory sensory neurons translate temporal dynamics of neural activity into specific gene expression patterns.

Ihara N. et al. European Journal of Neuroscience, doi: 10.1111/ejn.13282 (2016)
Nakashima A. et al. Cell 154, 1314-25 (2013).
Nakashima A. et al. Science 365(6448):eaaw5030 (2019).