Education
- PhD, 1994, Baylor College of Medicine; MD, 1997, Baylor College of Medicine
- BS, 1989, Biochemistry, Louisiana State University
Research Summary
Using Drosophila, we study how neurons form synaptic connections, as well as how synapses transmit information and change during learning and memory. We also investigate how alterations in neuronal signaling underlie several neurological diseases, including epilepsy, autism, and Huntington’s Disease. We hope to bridge the netbet online sports bettinggap between the molecular components of the synapse and the physiological responses they mediate.Key Publications
- A synaptotagmin suppressor screen indicates SNARE binding controls the timing and Ca2+ cooperativity of vesicle fusion. Guan, Z, Bykhovskaia, M, Jorquera, RA, Sutton, RB, Akbergenova, Y, Littleton, JT. 2017. Elife 6, .
doi: 10.7554/eLife.28409PMID:28895532 - Phosphorylation of Complexin by PKA Regulates Activity-Dependent Spontaneous Neurotransmitter Release and Structural Synaptic Plasticity. Cho, RW, Buhl, LK, Volfson, D, Tran, A, Li, F, Akbergenova, Y, Littleton, JT. 2015. Neuron 88, 749-61.
doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.10.011PMID:26590346 - Spontaneous and evoked release are independently regulated at individual active zones. Melom, JE, Akbergenova, Y, Gavornik, JP, Littleton, JT. 2013. J Neurosci 33, 17253-63.
doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3334-13.2013PMID:24174659 - A complexin fusion clamp regulates spontaneous neurotransmitter release and synaptic growth. Huntwork, S, Littleton, JT. 2007. Nat Neurosci 10, 1235-7.
doi: 10.1038/nn1980PMID:17873870 - Retrograde signaling by Syt 4 induces presynaptic release and synapse-specific growth. Yoshihara, M, Adolfsen, B, Galle, KT, Littleton, JT. 2005. Science 310, 858-63.
doi: 10.1126/science.1117541PMID:16272123
Recent Publications
- Stochastic netbet sports bettingRNA editing of the Complexin C-terminus within single neurons regulates neurotransmitter release. Brija, EA, Guan, Z, Jetti, SK, Littleton, JT. 2023. Cell Rep 42, 113152.
doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113152PMID:37717212 - Molecular logic of synaptic diversity between Drosophila tonic and phasic motoneurons. Jetti, SK, Crane, AB, Akbergenova, Y, Aponte-Santiago, NA, Cunningham, KL, Whittaker, CA, Littleton, JT. 2023. Neuron 111, 3554-3569.e7.
doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.07.019PMID:37611584 - Stochastic netbet sports bettingRNA editing of the Complexin C-terminus within single neurons regulates neurotransmitter release. Brija, EA, Guan, Z, Jetti, SK, Littleton, JT. 2023. bioRxiv , .
doi: 10.1101/2023.05.30.542887PMID:37398117 - Loss of the extracellular matrix protein Perlecan disrupts axonal and synaptic stability during Drosophila development. Guss, EJ, Akbergenova, Y, Cunningham, KL, Littleton, JT. 2023. Elife 12, .
doi: 10.7554/eLife.88273PMID:37368474 - Molecular Logic of Synaptic Diversity Between Drosophila Tonic and Phasic Motoneurons. Jetti, SK, Crane, AB, Akbergenova, Y, Aponte-Santiago, NA, Cunningham, KL, Whittaker, CA, Littleton, JT. 2023. bioRxiv , .
doi: 10.1101/2023.01.17.524447PMID:36711745 - Mechanisms controlling the trafficking, localization, and abundance of presynaptic Ca2+ channels. Cunningham, KL, Littleton, JT. 2022. Front Mol Neurosci 15, 1116729.
doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1116729PMID:36710932 - Regulation of presynaptic Ca2+ channel abundance at active zones through a balance of delivery and turnover. Cunningham, NetBet sportKL, Sauvola, CW, Tavana, S, Littleton, JT. 2022. Elife 11, .
doi: 10.7554/eLife.78648PMID:35833625 - Regulation of excitation-contraction coupling at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. Ormerod, KG, Scibelli, AE, Littleton, JT. 2022. J Physiol 600, 349-372.
doi: 10.1113/JP282092PMID:34788476 - The decoy SNARE Tomosyn sets tonic versus phasic release properties and is required for homeostatic synaptic plasticity. Sauvola, CW, Akbergenova, Y, Cunningham, KL, Aponte-Santiago, NA, Littleton, JT. 2021. Elife 10, .
doi: 10.7554/eLife.72841PMID:34713802 - Glial ER and GAP junction mediated Ca2+ waves are crucial to maintain normal brain excitability. Weiss, S, Clamon, LC, Manoim, JE, Ormerod, KG, Parnas, M, Littleton, JT. 2022. Glia 70, 123-144.
doi: 10.1002/glia.24092PMID:34528727