Nicole Calakos MD PhD
Professor of Neurology, Neurobiology and Cell Biology
Duke University Medical Center
Cell stress response pathways like the unfolded protein response (UPR) and integrated stress response (ISR) are typically thought of as conditional, on-demand responses to intermittent perturbations that are recruited to restore cell homeostasis. I will discuss recent insights enabled by genetic reporters that reveal a new normal relationship with such pathways in neuromodulatory neurons. In certain classes of cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons, the ISR proteostasis pathway is constitutively active under healthy brain conditions. I will discuss how disruptions to ISR activation modify neuronal activity, dopamine signaling, and behavior and the implications this property may carry for diseases like dystonia and Parkinson’s. Finally, I will introduce reagents and a mouse model of the SPOTlight reporter that provide opportunities to uncover hidden aspects of ISR regulation in other cell types and settings.
Jenna Ward
(815) 529-6182
Email