Synaptic Physiology in Fragile X Syndrome and epilepsy
Scientic Supervisor / Contact Person
Name and Surname
Ricardo Martín Herranz
ORCID (link)
Researcher ID (link)
Localization & Research Area
Faculty / Institute
Faculty of Medicine
Department
Physiology
Research Area
Life Sciences (LIF)
MSCA & ERC experience
Research group / research team hosted any MSCA fellow?
No
Research group / research team have any ERC beneficiaries?
No
Research Team & Research Topic
Research Team / Research Group Name (if any)
Neurotransmission & Neuromodulation
Website of the Research team / Research Group / Department
Brief description of the Research Team / Research Group / Department
The Neurotransmission & Neuromodulation group https://produccioncientifica.ucm.es/grupos/5253/detalle has extensive experience in studying the role of synaptic plasticity in the functioning of brain circuits in regions such as the cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum, as well as its alterations in animal models of neurodevelopmental diseases, with a special interest in ASD and Parkinson. Researchers in the group have discovered novel non-canonical signaling pathways mediated by metabotropic receptors that, by modulating the activity of astrocytes and neurons, are highly relevant for the correct excitability and connectivity of neuronal circuits. [J Physiol 592(13):2845-64 (2014); Science 349(6249):730-4 (2015); J Physiol 596(5):921-940 (2018); J Neurosci 40(45):8604-8617 (2020); Trends Neurosci 45(6):483-498 (2022)]. Furthermore, studies by the group have described alterations in these signaling pathways in various brain areas such as the cerebellum and cerebral cortex of KO mice for the Fmr1 and Cntnap2 genes (model lines for Fragile X Syndrome and Cortical Dysplasia-Focal Epilepsy, two rare diseases that present with an autistic phenotype and are susceptible to the onset of epileptic seizures), highlighting presynaptic alterations associated with increased excitability and/or alteration in signaling mediated by metabotropic receptors. [Cereb Cortex.;29(2):586-597 (2019); Neurobiol Dis 130:104482 (2019); Mol Autism 14(1):14 (2023)] and by alterations in paracrine signaling produced by the cutting of ectodomains [Neuron 110(4):627-643.e9 (2022)].
Research lines / projects proposed
Ricardo Martín Herranz (RMH, Assistant Professor, Physiology Department, Medicine School, UCM): His research line is focus on the physiological relevance of new GPCR-mediated signalling pathways as well as astrocyte-neuron bidirectional communication and their alterations in brain pathologies as Fragile X Syndrome and epilepsy by combined experiments of electron microscopy and electrophysiology in acute slices, knock down of presynaptic proteins at specific neuronal populations by shRNA-AAV-loxP injection in transgenic Cre-mice lines. He has demonstrated the existence of functional astro-neuronal networks that comprise subpopulations of astrocytes, neurons and synapses belonging either to the direct or the indirect basal ganglia pathways (Science 349(6249):730-4 (2015) 1st author). He has also found that mGluR7 and -adrenergic receptors participate in synaptic plasticity at hippocampal and cerebellar synapses [J Physiol 596: 921-940 (2018) 1st author and (J Neurosci 40(45):8604-17 (2020) 1st and corresponding author)] and that these responses are absent in a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) (Neurobiol Dis 130:104482 2019 co-author). He has been PI of a research project (PID2020-114030RB-100) focus on rescue strategies of synaptic plasticity and cerebellar motor learning of this FXS mouse model, which has already yielded a publication (Mol Autism 14(1):14 2023 1st and corresponding author). He is currently the PI of another project (PID2023-146614OB-I00) started in september 2024 which aim its understanding the alterations in synaptic plasticity and hippocampal function and identification of therapeutic targets in Fragile X Syndrome.
Key words
Application requirements
Professional Experience & Documents
CV
Reference letter
Experience in vector stereotaxic injection surgeries , electrophysiology, behavioral experiments.
Reference letter
Experience in vector stereotaxic injection surgeries , electrophysiology, behavioral experiments.
One Page Proposal
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