Determinants and dynamics of cell fate remodelling in the retina (A11)

神经系统的功能依赖于有适当的电路组成。我们感兴趣的是了解兴奋性和抑制性电路元件产生、分化和整合形成网络的机制。我们使用遗传和光学上可到达的斑马鱼视网膜来研究双极(兴奋性)和无长突细胞(抑制性)中间神经元是如何获得它们的命运的，并探索它们可以在多大程度上被重新编程以采用不同的命运。此外，我们还将探索允许再生的Müler细胞替换因损伤而丢失的特定中间神经元群体的机制，以及原位重新编程如何有助于这种替换。

Nervous system function is dependent on having appropriate circuit composition. We are interested in understanding the mechanisms by which excitatory and inhibitory circuit elements are generated, differentiate and integrate into forming networks. We use the genetically and optically accessible zebrafish retina to investigate how bipolar (excitatory) and amacrine cell (inhibitory) interneurons acquire their fate and probe the extent to which they can be re-programmed to adopt alternate fates. We will additionally explore the mechanisms that permit regenerative Müller cells to replace specific interneuron populations lost to injury and and how in situ re-programming could contribute to such replacement.