Michael Nitabach, PhD, JD
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
Our laboratory applies cellular, molecular, genetic, and physiological approaches to the question of how neuronal circuits perform computations underlying behavioral decision making. We take an interdisciplinary approach to these questions. We manipulate the physiological properties of neurons in directed ways by genetically targeted cell-specific expression of engineered proteins in transgenic animals. These engineered proteins include ion channel subunits, optogenetic effectors, intracellular ionic buffers, signaling enzymes, membrane-tethered neuropeptides, and membrane-tethered peptide neurotoxins that target specific ion channel subtypes. Subsequently, we measure the effects of these manipulations on the whole-animal behavior of intact Drosophila flies or C. elegans worms, as well as on various physiological parameters of the manipulated neurons using cell biological, neurophysiological, functional imaging, and genomics/systems biology techniques. As model systems for addressing these issues, we study the neural circuits that control sexual courtship behavior, sleep, energy metabolism, and decision making in Drosophila melanogaster flies and Caenorhabditis elegans worms.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Behavior, Animal; Decision Making; Genetics; Ion Channels; Neuropeptides; Neurophysiology; Neurotoxins; Physiology
Selected Publications
- Neural Architecture of Hunger-Dependent Multisensory Decision Making in C. elegans.Ghosh DD, Sanders T, Hong S, McCurdy LY, Chase DL, Cohen N, Koelle MR, Nitabach MN. Neural Architecture of Hunger-Dependent Multisensory Decision Making in C. elegans. Neuron 2016, 92:1049-1062.
- Presynaptic GABA Receptors Mediate Temporal Contrast Enhancement in Drosophila Olfactory Sensory Neurons and Modulate Odor-Driven Behavioral Kinetics.Raccuglia D, Yan McCurdy L, Demir M, Gorur-Shandilya S, Kunst M, Emonet T, Nitabach MN. Presynaptic GABA Receptors Mediate Temporal Contrast Enhancement in Drosophila Olfactory Sensory Neurons and Modulate Odor-Driven Behavioral Kinetics. ENeuro 2016, 3.
- Propagation of Homeostatic Sleep Signals by Segregated Synaptic Microcircuits of the Drosophila Mushroom Body.Sitaraman D, Aso Y, Jin X, Chen N, Felix M, Rubin GM, Nitabach MN. Propagation of Homeostatic Sleep Signals by Segregated Synaptic Microcircuits of the Drosophila Mushroom Body. Current Biology : CB 2015, 25:2915-27.
- A tarantula-venom peptide antagonizes the TRPA1 nociceptor ion channel by binding to the S1-S4 gating domain.Gui J, Liu B, Cao G, Lipchik AM, Perez M, Dekan Z, Mobli M, Daly NL, Alewood PF, Parker LL, King GF, Zhou Y, Jordt SE, Nitabach MN. A tarantula-venom peptide antagonizes the TRPA1 nociceptor ion channel by binding to the S1-S4 gating domain. Current Biology : CB 2014, 24:473-83.
- Calcitonin gene-related peptide neurons mediate sleep-specific circadian output in Drosophila.Kunst M, Hughes ME, Raccuglia D, Felix M, Li M, Barnett G, Duah J, Nitabach MN. Calcitonin gene-related peptide neurons mediate sleep-specific circadian output in Drosophila. Current Biology : CB 2014, 24:2652-64.
- Genetically targeted optical electrophysiology in intact neural circuits.Cao G, Platisa J, Pieribone VA, Raccuglia D, Kunst M, Nitabach MN. Genetically targeted optical electrophysiology in intact neural circuits. Cell 2013, 154:904-13.
- Autoreceptor control of peptide/neurotransmitter corelease from PDF neurons determines allocation of circadian activity in drosophila.Choi C, Cao G, Tanenhaus AK, McCarthy EV, Jung M, Schleyer W, Shang Y, Rosbash M, Yin JC, Nitabach MN. Autoreceptor control of peptide/neurotransmitter corelease from PDF neurons determines allocation of circadian activity in drosophila. Cell Reports 2012, 2:332-44.
- Deep sequencing the circadian and diurnal transcriptome of Drosophila brain.Hughes ME, Grant GR, Paquin C, Qian J, Nitabach MN. Deep sequencing the circadian and diurnal transcriptome of Drosophila brain. Genome Research 2012, 22:1266-81.