Matthew Sarkisian Matt Sarkisian’s lab explores the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying normal and pathogenetic development of the cerebral cortex. Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Investigator, McKnight Brain Institute Training Postdoc - Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT (Mentor: Pasko Rakic) Ph.D. Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT B.S. Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC Contact phone: 352.392.6850 office: MBI L1-100F lab: MBI LG-147 email:matt.sarkisian@mbi.ufl.edu The goal of my research program is to understand how mutations in genes expressed in the fetal brain lead to abnormal development and dysfunction of the cerebral cortex.  Development of the cortex is a highly orchestrated process, the disruption of which often leads to mental retardation, seizures, autism, and abnormalities in learning and memory. Detailed examination of the developing brains of animals carrying theses mutations will allow us to identify the specific developmental events affected by these mutations, information that could lead to development of therapeutic strategies for these devastating neural diseases. Our current research is focused on investigations of the MAPK signaling pathway, and on the development and function of neuronal primary cilia. The MAPK pathway plays a critical role in coordinating the response of cells to various extracellular stimuli. Disruptions of this pathway often lead to abnormal neuronal migration and differentiation in the developing brain. Neuronal cilia have, until recently, received little attention. Mutations in cilia genes have been linked to a number of neurological disorders in humans. Through collaborative efforts, we identified a new gene, stumpy, that encodes a protein that plays an important role in cilia growth. Mice lacking Stumpy fail to develop neuronal cilia and exhibit a variety of developmental abnormalities in the cerebral cortex. To investigate MAPK signaling and neuronal cilia we analyze developing normal and mutant brain using biochemical, molecular, cell culture, histological, and in vivo genetic assays. Recent Publications Interaction between Reelin and Notch signaling regulates neuronal migration in the cerebral cortex. Hashimoto-Torii K, Torii M, Sarkisian MR, Bartley CM, Shen J, Radtke R, Gridley T, Sestan N, Rakic P. Neuron 2008 60:273-284. Primary cilia regulate hippocampal neurogenesis by mediating sonic hedgehog signaling.  Breunig JJ, Sarkisian MR, Arellano JI, Morozov YM, Ayoub A, Sojitra S, Wang B, Flavell RA, Rakic P, Town T. PNAS 2008; 105: 13126-13131. Trouble making the first move: interpreting arrested neuronal migration in the cerebral cortex. Sarkisian MR, Bartley CM, Rakic P. Trends in Neurosciences 2008; 31: 54-61. MEKK4 signaling regulates filamin expression and neuronal migration. Sarkisian MR, Bartley CM, Chi H, Nakamura F, Hashimoto-Torii K, Torii M, Flavell RA, Rakic P. Neuron 2006; 52: 789-801