2024
Specific retinal neurons regulate context-dependent defensive responses to visual threat
Lee T, Weinberg-Wolf H, Zapadka T, Rudenko A, Demb J, Kim I. Specific retinal neurons regulate context-dependent defensive responses to visual threat. PNAS Nexus 2024, 3: pgae423. PMID: 39359403, PMCID: PMC11443969, DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae423.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRetinal ganglion cellsBehavioral responsesRetinal ganglion cell typesVisual threatAlpha retinal ganglion cellsLooming stimuliThreatening stimuliMature miceGanglion cellsBehavioral reactionsUnique contributionsCell ablationVisual pathwayOutput neuronsEarly visual pathwayStimuliContextual signalsDefense responsesAerial predatorsEnvironmental contextThe Structural and Functional Integrity of Rod Photoreceptor Ribbon Synapses Depends on Redundant Actions of Dynamins 1 and 3
Hanke-Gogokhia C, Zapadka T, Finkelstein S, Klingeborn M, Maugel T, Singer J, Arshavsky V, Demb J. The Structural and Functional Integrity of Rod Photoreceptor Ribbon Synapses Depends on Redundant Actions of Dynamins 1 and 3. Journal Of Neuroscience 2024, 44: e1379232024. PMID: 38641407, PMCID: PMC11209669, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1379-23.2024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRod ribbon synapsesDynamin-1Photoreceptor ribbon synapsesDynamin isoformsMembrane scissionRibbon synapsesConventional synapsesReduced synaptic vesicle densitySynaptic vesicle recycling processesEndocytosis of synaptic vesiclesRibbon-type active zonesVesicle densityConditional gene knockout approachGene knockout approachSynaptic vesicle densityVesicle endocytosisVesicle cycleDisrupt endocytosisDynaminSpecialized proteinsSynapse integrityEnlarged vesiclesSynaptic vesiclesKnockout approachRod photoreceptors
2023
Brn3b regulates the formation of fear-related midbrain circuits and defensive responses to visual threat
Lee H, Weinberg-Wolf H, Lee H, Lee T, Conte J, Godoy-Parejo C, Demb J, Rudenko A, Kim IJ. Brn3b regulates the formation of fear-related midbrain circuits and defensive responses to visual threat. PLOS Biology 2023, 21: e3002386. PMID: 37983249, PMCID: PMC10695396, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002386.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTranscription factor Brn3bLoss of neuronsVisual threatLateral posterior nucleusMutant mice displayDefensive responsesDefensive freezing responsesPosterior nucleusTachykinin 2Mice displayMidbrain circuitVisual circuitsNeural circuitryBrn3bSpecific genetic componentsFreezing responseFear-associated behaviorsSocial isolationTac2Behavioral phenotypesMolecular mechanismsFunctional organizationGenetic componentResponseSimilar mechanism
2021
Computational and Molecular Properties of Starburst Amacrine Cell Synapses Differ With Postsynaptic Cell Type
Pottackal J, Singer JH, Demb JB. Computational and Molecular Properties of Starburst Amacrine Cell Synapses Differ With Postsynaptic Cell Type. Frontiers In Cellular Neuroscience 2021, 15: 660773. PMID: 34381333, PMCID: PMC8351878, DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.660773.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPreservation of vision after CaMKII-mediated protection of retinal ganglion cells
Guo X, Zhou J, Starr C, Mohns EJ, Li Y, Chen EP, Yoon Y, Kellner CP, Tanaka K, Wang H, Liu W, Pasquale LR, Demb JB, Crair MC, Chen B. Preservation of vision after CaMKII-mediated protection of retinal ganglion cells. Cell 2021, 184: 4299-4314.e12. PMID: 34297923, PMCID: PMC8530265, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.06.031.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAxonsBrainCalcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding ProteinCytoprotectionDependovirusDisease Models, AnimalEnzyme ActivationGlaucomaMice, Inbred C57BLNeurotoxinsOptic Nerve InjuriesRetinal Ganglion CellsSignal TransductionVision, OcularConceptsRetinal ganglion cellsRGC survivalRGC somataGanglion cellsDiverse insultsRGC axon projectionOptic nerve injurySole output neuronsPreservation of visionElevated intraocular pressureIrreversible vision lossPathological statesExcitotoxic injuryNerve injuryGlaucoma modelIntraocular pressureRGC axonsVision lossVisual functionNormal retinaVisual cortexAxon projectionsGenetic deficiencyInjuryRetinaPhotoreceptive Ganglion Cells Drive Circuits for Local Inhibition in the Mouse Retina
Pottackal J, Walsh HL, Rahmani P, Zhang K, Justice NJ, Demb JB. Photoreceptive Ganglion Cells Drive Circuits for Local Inhibition in the Mouse Retina. Journal Of Neuroscience 2021, 41: 1489-1504. PMID: 33397711, PMCID: PMC7896016, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0674-20.2020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmacrine CellsAnimalsCorticotropin-Releasing HormoneElectrophysiological PhenomenaExcitatory Postsynaptic PotentialsFemaleGamma-Aminobutyric AcidGap JunctionsMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLNeural InhibitionNeuronsOptogeneticsPhotoreceptor Cells, VertebrateRetinaRetinal Cone Photoreceptor CellsRetinal Ganglion CellsRetinal Rod Photoreceptor CellsRod OpsinsSynapsesConceptsGap junction-mediated electrical synapsesAmacrine cellsElectrical synapsesIpRGC activityGanglion cellsRetinal interneuronsRetinal circuitsPhotosensitive retinal ganglion cellsGABAergic amacrine cellsRetinal ganglion cellsWhole-cell recordingsSpecific RGC typesAbsence of rodsIpRGC typesRGC typesPharmacological blockadeRetinal neuronsMelanopsin expressionMature retinaMouse retinaSynaptic circuitsNeuronal circuitsInterneuronsOptogenetic stimulationLocal inhibition
2020
Receptoral Mechanisms for Fast Cholinergic Transmission in Direction-Selective Retinal Circuitry
Pottackal J, Singer JH, Demb JB. Receptoral Mechanisms for Fast Cholinergic Transmission in Direction-Selective Retinal Circuitry. Frontiers In Cellular Neuroscience 2020, 14: 604163. PMID: 33324168, PMCID: PMC7726240, DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.604163.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDirection-selective ganglion cellsStarburst amacrine cellsFast cholinergic transmissionGABAergic inhibitionCholinergic transmissionGABAergic transmissionCholinergic excitationPostsynaptic currentsSynaptic mechanismsConventional synaptic transmissionReceptoral mechanismsReceptor blockadeAmacrine cellsGanglion cellsRetinal circuitryParacrine natureSynaptic transmissionConventional synapsesMammalian retinaMouse retinaParacrine transmissionParacrine modeDirection selectivityDistinct temporal propertiesReceptor kineticsConnectomic analysis reveals an interneuron with an integral role in the retinal circuit for night vision
Park SJ, Lieberman EE, Ke JB, Rho N, Ghorbani P, Rahmani P, Jun NY, Lee HL, Kim IJ, Briggman KL, Demb JB, Singer JH. Connectomic analysis reveals an interneuron with an integral role in the retinal circuit for night vision. ELife 2020, 9: e56077. PMID: 32412412, PMCID: PMC7228767, DOI: 10.7554/elife.56077.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAII amacrine cellsProjection neuronsSingle interneuron typeConnectomic analysisBipolar cell pathwaysNovel neural circuitGABAergic cellsAmacrine cellsCentral neuronsGanglion cellsSynaptic layersRetinal circuitsInterneuron typesSurround inhibitionMouse retinaNight visionON responseExcitatory centerOptogenetic analysesNeural circuitsInhibitory surroundCell pathwaysRod photoreceptorsReceptive fieldsRb pathway
2018
Restoration of vision after de novo genesis of rod photoreceptors in mammalian retinas
Yao K, Qiu S, Wang YV, Park SJH, Mohns EJ, Mehta B, Liu X, Chang B, Zenisek D, Crair MC, Demb JB, Chen B. Restoration of vision after de novo genesis of rod photoreceptors in mammalian retinas. Nature 2018, 560: 484-488. PMID: 30111842, PMCID: PMC6107416, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0425-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBeta CateninBlindnessCell CycleCell ProliferationCellular ReprogrammingDisease Models, AnimalFemaleGTP-Binding Protein alpha SubunitsHeterotrimeric GTP-Binding ProteinsMaleMiceNeurogenesisNeurogliaRegenerative MedicineRetinal Rod Photoreceptor CellsStem CellsTranscription FactorsTransducinVisual CortexVisual PathwaysConceptsMüller gliaGene transferMG proliferationRod photoreceptorsMammalian retinaCell fate specificationPopulations of stemSubsequent gene transferFate specificationRetinal stem cellsTranscription factorsRetinal neuronsCell cycleDouble mutant miceRegenerative machineryDe novo genesisΒ-cateninStem cellsProgenitor cellsRestoration of visionPrimary visual cortexMutant miceAbsence of injuryPhotoreceptorsRetinal injuryMelanopsin Shows Its (Contrast-)Sensitive Side
Pottackal J, Demb JB. Melanopsin Shows Its (Contrast-)Sensitive Side. Neuron 2018, 99: 630-632. PMID: 30138585, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.08.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConvergence and Divergence of CRH Amacrine Cells in Mouse Retinal Circuitry
Park SJH, Pottackal J, Ke JB, Jun NY, Rahmani P, Kim IJ, Singer JH, Demb JB. Convergence and Divergence of CRH Amacrine Cells in Mouse Retinal Circuitry. Journal Of Neuroscience 2018, 38: 3753-3766. PMID: 29572434, PMCID: PMC5895998, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2518-17.2018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlpha ganglion cellsGanglion cell typesAmacrine cellsGanglion cellsCRH cellsAlpha cellsGABAergic synapsesInhibitory interneuronsExcitation/inhibition balanceCorticotropin-releasing hormoneCre transgenic miceFire action potentialsTonic excitatory driveCell typesBalance of excitationGABA releaseExcitatory circuitsRetinal circuitryExcitatory driveInhibition balanceInhibitory inputsMammalian retinaMouse retinaAction potentialsOptogenetic analyses
2017
Retina: Microcircuits for Daylight, Twilight, and Starlight Vision
Demb J, Singer J. Retina: Microcircuits for Daylight, Twilight, and Starlight Vision. 2017, 265-272. DOI: 10.1093/med/9780190636111.003.0021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSelective synaptic connections in the retinal pathway for night vision
Beaudoin DL, Kupershtok M, Demb JB. Selective synaptic connections in the retinal pathway for night vision. The Journal Of Comparative Neurology 2017, 527: 117-132. PMID: 28856684, PMCID: PMC5832573, DOI: 10.1002/cne.24313.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAII amacrine cellsRetinal ganglion cellsAmacrine cellsRGC typesBipolar terminalsSynaptic connectionsCertain retinal ganglion cellsConnected retinal ganglion cellsIonotropic glutamate receptor antagonistsOFF alpha cellsGlutamate receptor antagonistsInner plexiform layerBipolar cell terminalsSelective synaptic connectionsBipolar cell activityOFF alphaRetinal connectionsRetinal pathwaysPlexiform layerReceptor antagonistDirect synapsesGanglion cellsGlycinergic synapsesInhibitory currentsMammalian retinaThese retinas are made for walkin'
Demb JB, Clark DA. These retinas are made for walkin'. Nature 2017, 546: 476-477. PMID: 28607483, DOI: 10.1038/nature22505.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2016
Divisive suppression explains high-precision firing and contrast adaptation in retinal ganglion cells
Cui Y, Wang YV, Park SJ, Demb JB, Butts DA. Divisive suppression explains high-precision firing and contrast adaptation in retinal ganglion cells. ELife 2016, 5: e19460. PMID: 27841746, PMCID: PMC5108594, DOI: 10.7554/elife.19460.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExcitatory synaptic inputsSynaptic inputsGanglion cell functionContrast adaptationRetinal ganglion cellsGanglion cell inputsComplex neural circuitsGanglion cell outputCell-intrinsic mechanismsGanglion cellsDivisive interactionMouse retinaNeural circuitsSpike responsesCell functionDivisive suppressionSensory processingCell inputSpike generation mechanismMillisecond precisionVisual processingSpike trainsCell outputSuppressionRetinaParallel Computations in Insect and Mammalian Visual Motion Processing
Clark DA, Demb JB. Parallel Computations in Insect and Mammalian Visual Motion Processing. Current Biology 2016, 26: r1062-r1072. PMID: 27780048, PMCID: PMC5108051, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.08.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchComplexin 3 Increases the Fidelity of Signaling in a Retinal Circuit by Regulating Exocytosis at Ribbon Synapses
Mortensen LS, Park SJ, Ke JB, Cooper BH, Zhang L, Imig C, Löwel S, Reim K, Brose N, Demb JB, Rhee JS, Singer JH. Complexin 3 Increases the Fidelity of Signaling in a Retinal Circuit by Regulating Exocytosis at Ribbon Synapses. Cell Reports 2016, 15: 2239-2250. PMID: 27239031, PMCID: PMC5134263, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.05.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRod bipolarsAsynchronous releaseAmacrine cell synapsesRetinal ganglion cellsRetinal pathwaysGanglion cellsCell synapsesRetinal circuitsRibbon synapsesMouse retinaMultivesicular releaseNeural circuitsComplexin proteinsSynapsesCircuit functionCplx3SignalingStudy linksReleaseExocytosisRB outputRetinaMind the Gap Junctions: The Importance of Electrical Synapses to Visual Processing
Demb JB, Singer JH. Mind the Gap Junctions: The Importance of Electrical Synapses to Visual Processing. Neuron 2016, 90: 207-209. PMID: 27100191, PMCID: PMC5751935, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.04.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMolecular features distinguish ten neuronal types in the mouse superficial superior colliculus
Byun H, Kwon S, Ahn HJ, Liu H, Forrest D, Demb JB, Kim IJ. Molecular features distinguish ten neuronal types in the mouse superficial superior colliculus. The Journal Of Comparative Neurology 2016, 524: 2300-2321. PMID: 26713509, PMCID: PMC4892959, DOI: 10.1002/cne.23952.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSpecific cell typesCell typesMolecular markersEts variant gene 1Distinct expression patternsSuperior colliculusMouse SSCsTranscription factorsCadherin-7Retinoid-related orphan receptor βContactin-3Cell adhesion moleculeProtein 3BNeuronal typesSSC neuronsExpression patternsGene expressionMolecular mechanismsProtocadherin 20Gene 1Binding proteinCadherin-6Netrin-G2Calcium binding proteinMolecular families
2015
An accurate circuit-based description of retinal ganglion cell computation
Cui Y, Wang Y, Demb J, Butts D. An accurate circuit-based description of retinal ganglion cell computation. BMC Neuroscience 2015, 16: o9. PMCID: PMC4697562, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-16-s1-o9.Peer-Reviewed Original Research