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SUMMARY:Fuzzy thinking: single neuron variation in RNA state space - Junhy
 ong Kim\, University of Pennsylvania
DTSTART:20110420T101000Z
DTEND:20110420T111000Z
UID:TALK30886@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Microsoft Research Cambridge Talks Admins
DESCRIPTION:A neuron is one of the most complex cells in our body. In part
 icular\, its functional units are individual processes (dendrites and axon
 s) with their complement of synapses rather than the whole cell. In the la
 st four years\, we have been working with Jim Eberwine (Penn Pharmacology)
  to investigate the RNA metabolism underlying a neuron’s developmental p
 henotype and its dendritic function. Using whole transcriptome manipulatio
 ns\, we have demonstrated that cellular phenotypes can be transdifferentia
 ted into other stable types. In particular\, we have found that the RNA st
 ates underlying cell types is much more variable than previously thought. 
 An important aspect of neuronal function is posttranscriptional regulation
  of subcellular localization of RNA. Using computational analysis\, we fou
 nd a surprising contribution from a rapidly evolving retroviral element in
  mediating RNA localization. Using comparative analysis of the dendritic t
 ranscriptome\, we show high rates of divergence in post-transcriptional su
 bcellular localization between rats and mice. We propose that evolution of
  neuronal function involves not only neuroanatomy but modulation of indivi
 dual synaptic responses.
LOCATION:Small lecture theatre\, Microsoft Research Ltd\, 7 J J Thomson Av
 enue (Off Madingley Road)\, Cambridge
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