The initial encoding of long-term memories occurs in the hippocampus and requires long-lasting changes in the synaptic efficacy of hippocampal neurons. Secretion of neuromodulators from dense-core granules (DCGs) influences synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. We study the trafficking and regulated secretion of several key neuromodulatory proteins that are postulated to mediiate changes in hippocampal plasticity. Insight derived from these studies may provide a biochemical understanding of the key synaptic events that facilitate synaptic strengthening and long-term memory formation.

To learn more about our work, see the recent article in the Lewis & Clark Chronicle. Click on the article title, Illuminating Memory, for the link to the story.

INVITED TALKS

XI INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATION

Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plasminogen Activation - June 16-20, 2007 (Saltsjobaden, Sweden)

GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCE

Proprotein Processing, Trafficking and Secretion - July 13-18, 2008 (New London, NH)

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

B.A. Scalettar, C. Jacobs, A. Fulwiler, L. Prahl, A. Simon, L. Hilken, and J.E. Lochner. Hindered submicron mobility and long-term storage of presynaptic dense-core granules revealed by single-particle tracking. Dev. Neurobio., Oct. 4, 2011 (Epub ahead of print).

J.E. Lochner, E. Spangler, M. Chavarha, C. Jacobs, K. McAllister, L.C. Schuttner, B. A. Scalettar. Efficient copackaging and cotransport yields postsynaptic colocalization of neuromodulators associated with synaptic plasticity. Dev. Neurobio., 68: 1243-1256, 2008.

Erika Spangler's summer research is featured on the cover!

pdf - Developmental Neurobiology

J.E. Lochner, L. S. Honigman, W. F. Grant , S.K. Gessford, A. B. Hansen, M.A. Silverman, and B.A. Scalettar. Activity-dependent release of tissue plasminogen activator from the dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons revealed by live-cell imaging. J. of Neurobio., 66:564-577, 2006

Leah Honigman's thesis work is featured on the cover!

pdf - Journal of Neurobiology

movie - Journal of Neurobiology

OTHER RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS

M.A. Silverman, S. Johnson , D. Gurkins , M. Farmer , J.E. Lochner, P. Rosa, and B.A. Scalettar. Mechanism of transport and exocytosis of dense-core granules containing tissue plasminogen activator in developing hippocampal neurons.   J. of Neurosci., 25:3095-3106, 2005

pdf - Journal of Neuroscience

J.R. Abney,   C.D. Meliza, B. Cutler , M. Kingma , J.E. Lochner and B. A. Scalettar. Real-time imaging of the dynamics of secretory granules in growth cones.   Biophys. J., 77:2887-2895, 1999

pdf - Biophysical Journal

J.E. Lochner, M. Kingma , C D. Meliza, B. Cutler , and B. A. Scalettar. Real-time Imaging of the axonal transport of granules containing a tissue plasminogen activator / green fluorescent protein hybrid. Mol. Bio. of the Cell, 8:2476-2476, 1998

pdf - Molecular Biology of the Cell

movies - Molecular Biology of the Cell