Mark A. Tanouye
Professor
Division of Insect Biology
131 LSA 642-9404
tanouye@uclink4.berkeley.edu

Research Interests

We study Drosophila mutants that have severe behavioral abnormalities. By determining the genetic and molecular bases of these abnormalities, we are able to unravel new and basic features of nervous system structure and function in insects.

Current Projects

Our approach is to use a combination of methodologies including classical and molecular genetics, behavior, electrophysiology, and neuroanatomy. Two broad questions are being examined:

i) What molecules are important for the generation of electrical signals in the nervous system? Properly signaling in the nervous system depends on molecules which underlie action potential genesis and synaptic transmission. Signaling may be examined genetically and molecularly using mutations which disrupt these molecules. Defects are manifest behaviorally as hyperexcitability or paralysis. Currently under study in the laboratory is the hyperexcitability mutant Shaker and the paralytic mutants bangsenseless, easily shocked, bang sensitive, and paralytic.

ii) What molecules are necessary for the development and stable maintenance of neuronal connections? During development, nerve cells must navigate toward their targets using molecules that mark pathways and other molecules in growth cones that respond to the pathway makers. One targets are reached, nerve connections must be established and stably maintained. Specific behavioral mutants may be used to dissect apart this process. Currently under study in the laboratory are mutations that disrupt the escape behaviors of flight and jump. These mutations form a powerful way of dissecting apart the molecular interactions responsible for nervous system development. Currently under study are the mutations bendless and stripe.

Selected Publications

Oh, C.E., McMahon, R., Benzer, S. & Tanouye, M.A. (1994). Bendless, a Drosophila gene affecting neuronal connectivity, encodes a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme homolog. J Neurosci 14, 3166-3179.

Pavlidis, P., Ramaswami M. & Tanouye M.A. (1994). The Drosophila easily shocked gene: a mutation in a phospholipid synthetic pathway causes seizure, neuronal failure, and paralysis. Cell 79, 1-20.

Pavlidis, P. & Tanouye, M.A. (1995). Seizures and failures in the giant fiber pathway of Drosophila bang-sensitive paralytic mutants. J Neurosci 15, 5810-5819.

Lee, J.C., VijayRaghavan, K., Celniker, S. & Tanouye, M.A. (1995). Identification of a Drosophila muscle development gene with structural homology to mammalian early growth response transcription factors. Proc Natl Acad Sci (USA) 92, 10344-10348.

Dobson, S. & Tanouye, M.A. (1996). The paternal sex ratio chromosome induces chromosome loss independently of Wolbachia in the wasp Nasonia vitripennis. Dev Genes Evol 206, 207-217.

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