Cholinergic neurons trigger epithelial Ca currents to heal the gut.

A fundamental and unresolved question in regenerative biology is how tissues return to homeostasis after injury. Answering this question is essential for understanding the aetiology of chronic disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases and cancer. We used the Drosophila midgut to investigate this and discovered that during regeneration a subpopulation of cholinergic neurons triggers Ca currents among intestinal epithelial cells, the enterocytes, to promote return to homeostasis.

Epithelial Ca waves triggered by enteric neurons heal the gut.

A fundamental and unresolved question in regenerative biology is how tissues return to homeostasis after injury. Answering this question is essential for understanding the etiology of chronic disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases and cancer. We used the midgut to investigate this question and discovered that during regeneration a subpopulation of cholinergic enteric neurons triggers Ca currents among enterocytes to promote return of the epithelium to homeostasis.

Bioelectric regulation of intestinal stem cells.

Proper regulation of ion balance across the intestinal epithelium is essential for physiological functions, while ion imbalance causes intestinal disorders with dire health consequences. Ion channels, pumps, and exchangers are vital for regulating ion movements (i.e.

"ISN't Thirst Sweet?" Says the Fly.

How food and water intake is reciprocally regulated to maintain homeostasis is unclear. New findings by Jourjine and colleagues identify four neurons in the Drosophila brain that receive both water and sugar abundance signals and oppositely regulate hunger and thirst.

Circadian Rhythms in Rho1 Activity Regulate Neuronal Plasticity and Network Hierarchy.

Neuronal plasticity helps animals learn from their environment. However, it is challenging to link specific changes in defined neurons to altered behavior. Here, we focus on circadian rhythms in the structure of the principal s-LNv clock neurons in Drosophila.

Regulation of α-synuclein expression in cultured cortical neurons.

Alpha-synuclein (SNCA) is a predominantly neuronal protein involved in the control of neurotransmitter release. The levels of SNCA expression are closely linked to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease; however, the biochemical pathways and transcriptional elements that control SNCA expression are not well understood. We previously used the model system of neurotrophin-mediated PC12 cell neuronal differentiation to examine these phenomena.