David Turner, Ph.D.

During mammalian neurogenesis, a complex cascade of gene regulation controls the formation of hundreds of different types of neurons and glia. Cells exit from the cell cycle, migrate to appropriate locations, and differentiate into neurons appropriate to their location within the central nervous system (CNS). We are interested in understanding the regulatory processes that control neurogenesis and cell fate in the CNS. Recent and ongoing projects in the laboratory focus on transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of gene expression in the CNS.

Basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors such as Neurog2 and Ascl1 can drive cell cycle exit and neuronal differentiation of competent cells. These proteins can influence neural cell cycle exit in part by modulating the Hippo/Yap pathway. We are interested in understanding these and other events regulated by bHLH proteins during neuronal differentiation. We use RNAi, RNAseq, and other methods to assess gene function.

MicroRNAs are endogenous small RNAs that regulate gene expression at the level of RNA stability and translation, with critical roles in neural development. We are profiling microRNA expression by deep sequencing, as well as using protein-RNA crosslinking and sequencing (PAR-CLIP) to identify microRNA targets in the CNS and other systems. We are particularly interested in identifying microRNAs involved in the formation or function of specific types of neurons.