Luke D. Lavis

Large-scale all-optical electrophysiology links excitability and connectivity to circuit dynamics in vivo

The paper develops tools for large-scale all-optical electrophysiology to study neural circuit dynamics, excitability, and connectivity in vivo.

Biotin-operated ligand trapping enables dynamic spatial redistribution of protein and organelle in living cells

This paper introduces BOLT, a tool for inducible trapping, controlled release, and visualization of proteins in living cells, demonstrating its use in tracking protein and organelle dynamics.

WHaloForce enables chemigenetic imaging of molecular tension in living cells and animals

WHaloForce is a chemigenetic tension sensor that enables quantitative imaging of molecular forces in living cells and animals, revealing distinct force patterns in different tissues.

A unified photosensitizer platform for in situ DNA, RNA, and protein directed proximity labeling

The paper introduces POCA, a photosensitizer platform for proximity labeling of proteins, RNA, and DNA in fixed cells without genetic engineering, demonstrating its utility across multiple molecular targets.

A series of spontaneously blinking dyes for super-resolution microscopy

This paper introduces a series of spontaneously blinking dyes with adjustable duty cycles for improved single-molecule localization microscopy in cells and dense structures.

Nanoscale imaging of expanded cells and proteins with spontaneously blinking dyes

This paper introduces a single-step expansion microscopy method enabling SMLM with spontaneously blinking dyes in expanded samples, achieving nanometer-resolution imaging of cellular structures.

A dendrite-resolved, in vivo transfer function from spike patterns to dendritic Ca2+

This study measures the voltage-to-Ca2+ transfer function in hippocampal CA2 pyramidal neurons during behavior and develops a biophysics-inspired model to predict Ca2+ signals from voltage waveforms.

Dendritic excitations primarily mediate back-propagation in CA1 pyramidal neurons during behavior

This study maps dendritic membrane potential dynamics in CA1 neurons during behavior, showing dendritic spikes are driven by back-propagating action potentials and influence spiking outputs and plasticity.

Relative phase of membrane potential theta oscillations between individual hippocampal neurons code space

The paper analyzes the relative phase of membrane potential theta oscillations between hippocampal neurons during a virtual spatial task, revealing spatially coded phase shifts independent of spiking activity.

Presynaptic Release Probability Determines the Need for Sleep

The paper shows that presynaptic release probability, not synaptic strength, decreases with sleep loss and affects sleep need across species.

Design of Orthogonal Far-Red, Orange and Green Fluorophore-binding Proteins for Multiplex Imaging

The paper designs orthogonal fluorophore-binding proteins using deep learning for multiplex imaging, demonstrating high specificity and utility in labeling and monitoring subcellular processes.

De novo designed bright, hyperstable rhodamine binders for fluorescence microscopy

This paper designs de novo Rhodamine Binder (Rhobin) tags with high brightness, stability, and applicability in live-cell imaging and extreme conditions.

In vivo multiplex imaging of dynamic neurochemical networks with designed far-red dopamine sensors

The paper introduces a far-red dopamine sensor, HaloDA1.0, enabling multiplex imaging of neurochemical networks in vivo with high sensitivity and versatility.

Imaging neuronal voltage beyond the scattering limit

This paper introduces a method to image neuronal voltage with super-resolution beyond tissue scattering limits, achieving high precision in dense neuronal populations.

FilaBuster: A Strategy for Rapid, Specific, and Spatiotemporally Controlled Intermediate Filament Disassembly

FilaBuster enables rapid, specific, and spatiotemporally controlled disassembly of intermediate filaments in living cells using a three-step photochemical strategy.

Whole-brain, all-optical interrogation of neuronal dynamics underlying gut interoception in zebrafish

The paper develops an all-optical system to study whole-brain neuronal dynamics during gut interoception in zebrafish, revealing how nutrient delivery and sensory stimuli are encoded across brain regions.

Dendritic excitations govern back-propagation via a spike-rate accelerometer

The paper investigates dendritic excitations in CA1 pyramidal neurons, showing how locally generated Na+ spikes drive history-dependent spike back-propagation and influence associative plasticity.

Collateral connectomes of Esr1-positive hypothalamic neurons modulate defensive behavior plasticity

The paper investigates VMH-coll neurons' role in defensive behavior plasticity, finding they modulate freezing and escape behaviors through inhibitory mechanisms and neuropeptide modulation.

Mesoscale chromatin confinement facilitates target search of pioneer transcription factors in live cells

The paper reveals that pioneer transcription factors use mesoscale chromatin confinement to efficiently search for and bind to closed chromatin regions in live cells.

Coumarin as a general switching auxiliary to prepare photochromic and spontaneously blinking fluorophores

This paper introduces a method to create photochromic and blinking fluorophores by combining rhodamine and coumarin dyes, enhancing SMLM labeling options.

A modular chemigenetic calcium indicator enables in vivo functional imaging with near-infrared light

The paper introduces WHaloCaMP, a near-infrared calcium indicator, and demonstrates its use in imaging calcium responses in various organisms.

Mapping memories: pulse-chase labeling reveals AMPA receptor dynamics during memory formation

The paper introduces EPSILON, a technique to map AMPA receptor dynamics during memory formation and finds a correlation between synaptic plasticity and cFos expression.

Voltage dynamics of dendritic integration and back-propagation in vivo

The paper measures voltage dynamics in dendrites of mice neurons during synaptic input integration and action potential propagation, finding shared membrane voltage and rate-dependent propagation of back-propagating action potentials.

Sensitivity optimization of a rhodopsin-based fluorescent voltage indicator

The paper identifies a mutation that enhances the sensitivity of a fluorescent voltage indicator, improving its ability to detect both spiking and subthreshold voltage signals in multiple organisms.

Time-tagged ticker tapes for intracellular recordings

The paper develops a protein-based ticker tape system to record neural activation histories with high temporal resolution.

Brain-wide measurement of synaptic protein turnover reveals localized plasticity during learning

The paper develops DELTA, a method to measure brain-wide synaptic protein turnover at single-synapse resolution, revealing localized plasticity in hippocampal CA1 during learning.

Kinetic principles underlying pioneer function of GAGA transcription factor in live cells

The paper studies the kinetic behavior of the GAGA transcription factor in live Drosophila cells, showing it stably binds chromatin for over 2 minutes, independent of chromatin remodelers.

Spatio-Temporal Coordination Of Transcription Preinitiation Complex Assembly In Live Cells

This study uses live-cell imaging in yeast to show how PIC components explore the nucleus and assemble at promoters, revealing spatio-temporal coordination in transcription initiation.

Single-molecule imaging of chromatin remodelers reveals role of ATPase in promoting fast kinetics of target search and dissociation from chromatin

The paper uses single-molecule imaging to study chromatin remodelers in budding yeast, revealing their fast kinetics and ATP-dependent dissociation from chromatin.

A general approach to engineer positive-going eFRET voltage indicators

The paper describes engineering eFRET voltage indicators with positive-going fluorescence responses by modifying microbial rhodopsins.