Team 7
Molecular biology of
neuronal transport

Importin-Dependent Subcellular Transport in Neuronal Function and Behavior

Using approaches spanning behavior to molecular mechanisms, we discovered that importin α5 regulates anxiety pathways through MeCP2 nuclear import in hippocampal neurons, that importin α3 controls c-Fos transport in DRG neurons during chronic pain, and that importin β1’s 3’UTR is required for presynaptic plasticity, local translation, and memory in hippocampal mossy fibers.

Behavioral screening of importin α knockouts also revealed distinct phenotypes, including reduced sensorimotor coordination and increased aggression.

We now aim to pinpoint the precise anatomical locus of importin α5-driven anxiolysis, combining advanced imaging and RNA-seq in cell and animal models. This work should reveal how importin-dependent transport controls transcription and shapes neurobehavioral mechanisms.