Faculty
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Morgan, Jennifer
Assistant Professor, Molecular Cell & Developmental Biology
E-mail Website Main Office: PAT 522
Phone: 232-0730 Alternate Office: PAT 519-522
Phone: Mailing Address:
University of Texas at Austin
Section of MCDB
1 University Station C1000
Austin, TX 78712-0253
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Research Summary:
The process by which neurons communicate with each other is called synaptic transmission, and it underlies all human social, cognitive, motor and sexual behaviors. Communication between neurons occurs at specialized contact sites, called synapses, where one neuron releases neurotransmitters onto the other neuron. In this way the two neurons talk to one another. Thus, the structural and functional integrity of synapses must be maintained in order for the neurons to communicate over the long term. Yet synapses must be dynamic and flexible in order to adapt to changes in the environment. In my lab, we are exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying both synaptic maintenance and synaptic plasticity. Specifically, our current projects are focussed on elucidating: 1) the molecular mechanisms of synaptic vesicle recycling (emphasis on clathrin coated vesicle formation and uncoating), and 2) the structural, physiological, and molecular mechanisms that mediate synapse recovery after spinal cord injury.
Publications:| 2006 | Augustine GJ, Morgan JR, Villalba-Galea CA, Jin S, Prasad K, Lafer EM, Clathrin and synaptic vesicle endocytosis: studies at the squid giant synapse, Biochem Soc Trans 34:68-72. | | 2006 | *Bourne JN, *Morgan JR, Pieribone VA (* Authors contributed equally), Actin polymerization regulates clathrin coat maturation during early stages of synaptic vesicle recycling at lamprey synapses, J Comp Neurol 497:600-609. | | 2004 | Morgan JR, Di Paolo G, Werner H, Shchedrina VA, Pypaert M, Pieribone VA, and De Camilli P, A role for talin in presynaptic function, J Cell Biol 167:43-50. | | 2003 | Morgan JR, Prasad K, Jin S, Augustine GJ, and Lafer EM, Eps15 homology domain-NPF interactions regulate clathrin coat assembly during synaptic vesicle recycling, J Biol Chem 278:33583-33592. | | 2001 | Morgan JR, Prasad K, Jin S, Augustine GJ, Lafer EM, Uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles in presynaptic terminals is mediated by auxilin-Hsc70 interaction., Neuron 32:289-300. |
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