Kristina Sakers

This study shows that δ-catenin regulates astrocyte transcriptional maturation and circuit stabilization via Zbtb20, with loss of δ-catenin disrupting layer-specific astrocyte identities and prolonging ocular dominance plasticity.

The paper develops an in vivo MPRA method to identify sequence determinants of mRNA localization in astrocytes and finds diverse regulatory mechanisms are used.

This study identifies Nedd4l-mediated ubiquitination of NL2 as essential for astrocyte morphogenesis during development.

The paper shows that phosphatidylserine exposure by developing astrocytes triggers microglia-mediated cell death, leading to vascular defects in the retina and cerebral cortex.

This study shows microglia instruct astrocyte-synapse interactions via Wnt signaling, enabling microglia to remove synapses during activity-dependent remodeling.

This study identifies Neurocan as an astrocyte-secreted protein that promotes inhibitory synapse formation and function through its C-terminal fragment.

This study shows that TSP1 and TSP2 from astrocytes are essential for synapse development and effort control during operant conditioning in mice.

This study shows that the LRRK2 G2019S mutation impairs astrocyte morphology and synapse maintenance by hyperphosphorylating ERM proteins, which disrupts the Ezrin/Atg7 interaction and autophagy.

This study shows that training-induced excitatory synaptogenesis in the ACC->DMS circuit is required for effort control, not learning, and is mediated by the 2{delta}-1 protein.

The paper shows astrocytes have a translational response to neuronal activity, altering their proteome at synapses through BDNF and K+ signals.

The paper uses CRISPR TRAPseq to show QKI is important for astrocytic maturation and synaptic control in vivo.

The paper shows astrocytes perform local translation in their peripheral processes, identifies candidate transcripts, and links them to synaptic regulation.