Spine Plasticity
Determine the underlying mechanism by which microtubule polymerization into dendritic spines affects dendritic spine structure and function.
Dendritic spines are tiny protrusions coming off dendrites. They are postsynaptic, and respond by changes in morphology and composition in response to alterations of signals from axons. We are studying those changes, and are especially focused on the role of microtubules in both specifying which dendritic spines need altering, and delivering the cargo for those changes.
The Dent Lab is working on studying this process, termed “microtubule invasion of dendritic spines” by altering the likelihood of spines being invaded. We have recently published a technique which can inhibit microtubules from invading spines, while leaving the microtubules in the dendritic shaft unperturbed (MTED). We are now finalizing a paired technique, which will allow us to increase the invasion likelihood, again while leaving shaft microtubules alone. With these two approaches, we are able to increase or decrease invasions, and studying resulting changes to dendritic spine
