Daniel Alfonso Colón-Ramos, PhD
Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Locations
Research Summary
The human brain consists of 100 billion neurons and over 100 trillion synapses. The ability of a neuron to find its correct target in this complex environment is critical for the formation of the circuits that underlie human behavior. How do neurons discriminate between a plethora of target choices to form precise synaptic connections and assemble specific neural circuits? How do circuits become substrates to experience, and change during to learning?
We have established a system in the C. elegans nerve ring (the nematode brain) to study these questions. The C. elegans nerve ring, the most complex neuropil structure in the organism, is precisely wired to facilitate the nematode’s behaviors. In my lab we examine the decisions that single neurons make in the living, developing animal as they assemble into a functioning brain, and how these connections change during behaviors.
Our lab couples genetic, molecular, biochemical, behavioral and imaging techniques to identify the signals that direct precise circuit connectivity in the nematode brain and how they change during behavior and learning.
Specialized Terms: Neural connectivity; Brain; Nematode C. elegans
Coauthors
Research Interests
Behavior; Brain; Cell Biology; Neurons
Selected Publications
- Incorporating the image formation process into deep learning improves network performanceLi Y, Su Y, Guo M, Han X, Liu J, Vishwasrao H, Li X, Christensen R, Sengupta T, Moyle M, Rey-Suarez I, Chen J, Upadhyaya A, Usdin T, Colón-Ramos D, Liu H, Wu Y, Shroff H. Incorporating the image formation process into deep learning improves network performance. Nature Methods 2022, 19: 1427-1437. PMID: 36316563, PMCID: PMC9636023, DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01652-7.
- Long-Term Precision Editing of Neural Circuits Using Engineered Gap Junction HemichannelsDzirasa K, Ransey E, Chesnov K, Wisdom E, Bowman R, Rodriguez T, Adamson E, Thomas G, Almoril-Porras A, Schwennesen H, Colón-Ramos D, Hultman R, Bursac N. Long-Term Precision Editing of Neural Circuits Using Engineered Gap Junction Hemichannels. Biological Psychiatry 2022, 91: s14-s15. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.02.055.
- Isotropic Light-Sheet Microscopy and Automated Cell Lineage Analyses to Catalogue Caenorhabditis elegans Embryogenesis with Subcellular ResolutionDuncan L, Moyle M, Shao L, Sengupta T, Ikegami R, Kumar A, Guo M, Christensen R, Santella A, Bao Z, Shroff H, Mohler W, Colón-Ramos D. Isotropic Light-Sheet Microscopy and Automated Cell Lineage Analyses to Catalogue Caenorhabditis elegans Embryogenesis with Subcellular Resolution. Journal Of Visualized Experiments 2019 DOI: 10.3791/59533-v.
- Untwisting the Caenorhabditis elegans embryoChristensen RP, Bokinsky A, Santella A, Wu Y, Marquina-Solis J, Guo M, Kovacevic I, Kumar A, Winter PW, Tashakkori N, McCreedy E, Liu H, McAuliffe M, Mohler W, Colón-Ramos D, Bao Z, Shroff H. Untwisting the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo. ELife 2015, 4: e10070. PMID: 26633880, PMCID: PMC4764590, DOI: 10.7554/elife.10070.
- Watching a roundworm develop with a sheet of lightKumar A, Colón-Ramos D, Shroff H. Watching a roundworm develop with a sheet of light. Physics Today 2015, 68: 58-59. DOI: 10.1063/pt.3.2856.
- An imaging and analysis toolset for the study of Caenorhabditiselegans neurodevelopmentChristensen R, Bokinsky A, Santella A, Wu Y, Marquina J, Kovacevic I, Kumar A, Winter P, McCreedy E, Mohler W, Bao Z, Colón-Ramos D, Shroff H. An imaging and analysis toolset for the study of Caenorhabditiselegans neurodevelopment. Proceedings Of SPIE--the International Society For Optical Engineering 2015, 9334: 93340c-93340c-9. DOI: 10.1117/12.2082394.
- Impact of Culturally Relevant Contextualized Activities on Elementary and Middle School Students’ Perceptions of Science: An Exploratory StudyGonzález-Espada W, Llerandi-Román P, Fortis-Santiago Y, Guerrero-Medina G, Ortiz-Vega N, Feliú-Mójer M, Colón-Ramos D. Impact of Culturally Relevant Contextualized Activities on Elementary and Middle School Students’ Perceptions of Science: An Exploratory Study. International Journal Of Science Education Part B 2014, 5: 182-202. DOI: 10.1080/21548455.2014.881579.
- Synapse Location during Growth Depends on Glia LocationShao Z, Watanabe S, Christensen R, Jorgensen EM, Colón-Ramos DA. Synapse Location during Growth Depends on Glia Location. Cell 2013, 154: 337-350. PMID: 23870123, PMCID: PMC3808971, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.06.028.
- Serotonergic Neurosecretory Synapse Targeting Is Controlled by Netrin-Releasing Guidepost Neurons in Caenorhabditis elegansNelson JC, Colón-Ramos DA. Serotonergic Neurosecretory Synapse Targeting Is Controlled by Netrin-Releasing Guidepost Neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans. Journal Of Neuroscience 2013, 33: 1366-1376. PMID: 23345213, PMCID: PMC3584569, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3471-12.2012.
- Synaptic vesicle clustering requires a distinct MIG-10/Lamellipodin isoform and ABI-1 downstream from NetrinStavoe AK, Nelson JC, Martínez-Velázquez LA, Klein M, Samuel AD, Colón-Ramos DA. Synaptic vesicle clustering requires a distinct MIG-10/Lamellipodin isoform and ABI-1 downstream from Netrin. Genes & Development 2012, 26: 2206-2221. PMID: 23028145, PMCID: PMC3465741, DOI: 10.1101/gad.193409.112.
- Netrin instructs synaptic vesicle clustering through Rac GTPase, MIG-10, and the actin cytoskeletonStavoe AK, Colón-Ramos DA. Netrin instructs synaptic vesicle clustering through Rac GTPase, MIG-10, and the actin cytoskeleton. Journal Of Cell Biology 2012, 197: 75-88. PMID: 22451697, PMCID: PMC3317799, DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201110127.
- A conserved PTEN/FOXO pathway regulates neuronal morphology during C. elegans developmentChristensen R, de la Torre-Ubieta L, Bonni A, Colón-Ramos DA. A conserved PTEN/FOXO pathway regulates neuronal morphology during C. elegans development. Development 2011, 138: 5257-5267. PMID: 22069193, PMCID: PMC3210501, DOI: 10.1242/dev.069062.
- Glia Promote Local Synaptogenesis Through UNC-6 (Netrin) Signaling in C. elegansColón-Ramos D, Margeta MA, Shen K. Glia Promote Local Synaptogenesis Through UNC-6 (Netrin) Signaling in C. elegans. Science 2007, 318: 103-106. PMID: 17916735, PMCID: PMC2741089, DOI: 10.1126/science.1143762.