Genetic dissection of neural circuits
The mammalian brain contains an enormous variety of neuron types, each with distinct morphology, connectivity, physiology and function. Different types of neurons, as the building blocks of neural circuits, are highly intermingled and interconnected. Genetic mouse engineering engaging the intrinsic gene regulatory mechanisms that generate and maintain cell type identity and phenotypes allow the establishment of experimental systems which promise precise and reliable identification and manipulation of distinct cell types. Generating and utilizing genetic mouse models targeting diverse neuronal cell types, we aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying neural circuit assembly, organization, plasticity and pathology in neurological disorders, from the angle of distinct cell types. We are also interested how miRNA is involved in these processes.