Corticospinal motor neurons (CSMN) are the cortical neurons that that project from motor cortex to spinal targets and degenerate in various motor neuron degenerative diseases, such as ALS. In our lab, our goal is to understand the cellular mechanisms of cell survival, directed differentiation, maturation and axon outgrowth in CSMN, both during development and in relation to disease. We developed novel in vitro approaches to investigate sub-type specific neuron populations of the cortex with high precision and purity.
Taking advantage of novel technologies and approaches such as microfluidic devices and microchips in tissue culture, and micromanipulation of gene expression during corticogenesis, we address most critical questions about CSMN survival and directed differentiation both in vitro and in vivo.
In our lab, we use mice models of motor neuron disorders to further investigate CSMN biology and their degeneration in relation to disease initiation and progression.
Publications
Ozdinler PH, and Macklis JD. (2006) IGF-I specifically enhances axon outgrowth of corticospinal motor neurons. Nature Neuroscience. Nov;9(11):1371-81
Steele AD, Emsley JG, Ozdinler PH, Lindquist S, Macklis JD. (2006) Prion protein (PrPc) positively regulates neural precursor proliferation during developmental and adult mammalian neurogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 103(9):3416-21
Ozdinler PH, Ulupinar E, Erzurumlu RS. (2005) Dose and age-dependent axonal responses of embryonic trigeminal neurons to localized NGF via p75NTR receptor. Journal of Neurobiolgy. 62(2):189-206.
Genç B, Ozdinler PH, Mendoza AE, Erzurumlu RS. (2004) A chemoattractant role for NT-3 in proprioceptive axon guidance. PLoS Biol. 2(12)
Ozdinler PH, Erzurumlu RS. (2002) Slit2, a branching-arborization factor for sensory axons in the Mammalian CNS. Journal of Neuroscience. 22(11):4540-9.
Ozdinler PH, Erzurumlu RS. (2001) Regulation of neurotrophin-induced axonal responses via Rho GTPases. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 438(4):377-87.
