Lara Ianov

nf_xpatial: A Reproducible Framework for Standardized Preprocessing and Clustering of Xenium Data

nf_xpatial provides a standardized Nextflow pipeline for preprocessing and clustering Xenium spatial transcriptomics data, enabling reproducible analysis and parameter comparison.

A conserved population of genetically defined striatal neurons gates opioid reward

The paper identifies a rare striatal neuron population, Chst9-MSNs, that is critical for opioid reward and distinct from canonical pathways.

Morphine regulates astrocyte transcriptional dynamics in the ventral tegmental area by stimulation of glucocorticoid signaling

This study identifies morphine-induced transcriptional changes in VTA glial cells and dopamine neurons, revealing glucocorticoid-mediated regulation of Fkbp5 in astrocytes.

scnanoseq: an nf-core pipeline for Oxford Nanopore single-cell RNA-sequencing

The paper introduces a Nextflow-based pipeline for analyzing Oxford Nanopore single-cell RNA sequencing data, enabling gene and transcript-level quantification with portability and reproducibility.

Reelin marks cocaine-activated striatal ensembles, promotes neuronal excitability, and regulates cocaine reward

This study identifies Reelin as a marker of cocaine-activated neuronal ensembles in the rat nucleus accumbens and shows its role in cocaine reward and neuronal excitability.

Distinct roles of Bdnf I and Bdnf IV transcript variant expression in hippocampal neurons

This study investigates the functional roles of Bdnf I and Bdnf IV transcript variants in hippocampal neurons using CRISPRa, finding distinct effects on dendritic growth and fear behavior.

Alterations in DNA 5-hydroxymethylation Patterns in the Hippocampus of an Experimental Model of Refractory Epilepsy

The paper investigates DNA 5-hydroxymethylation (5-hmC) changes in TLE patients and a rat model, finding reduced 5-hmC levels and specific gene associations, with Tet1 manipulation affecting seizure outcomes.

Temporally Specific Gene Expression and Chromatin Remodeling Programs Regulate a Conserved Pdyn Enhancer

The paper identifies a conserved enhancer upstream of Pdyn that is regulated by activity-dependent transcription factors and required for Pdyn expression in neurons.

Distinct subpopulations of D1 medium spiny neurons exhibit unique transcriptional responsiveness to cocaine

The paper uses snRNA-seq to identify distinct D1-MSN subpopulations with differential transcriptional responses to cocaine in rats.

An atlas of transcriptionally defined cell populations in the rat ventral tegmental area

The paper generates a transcriptional atlas of the rat ventral tegmental area using snRNA-seq, identifying 16 cell types, including neurons co-expressing multiple neurotransmitter systems and associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.

Regulation of dopamine-dependent transcription and cocaine action by Gadd45b

This study investigates the role of Gadd45b in dopamine-dependent transcription and cocaine reward, showing its necessity for cocaine-induced behavioral and epigenetic changes.

Enhancer RNAs predict enhancer-gene regulatory links and are critical for enhancer function in neuronal systems

The paper identifies enhancer-gene regulatory links using eRNAs and shows their functional importance in neuronal systems.

DOCK3 is a dosage-sensitive regulator of skeletal muscle and Duchenne muscular dystrophy-associated pathologies.

This study investigates the role of DOCK3 in skeletal muscle and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, finding that reducing DOCK3 improves dystrophic muscle histology while complete loss worsens muscle function.

A dopamine-induced gene expression signature regulates neuronal function and cocaine response

This study identifies a dopamine-induced gene expression signature in the nucleus accumbens that drives cocaine-induced physiological and behavioral adaptations in rats.

Human and Rodent Temporal Lobe Epilepsy is Characterized by Changes in O-GlcNAc Homeostasis that can be Reversed to Dampen Epileptiform Activity

This study shows that O-GlcNAc homeostasis is disrupted in TLE and that inhibiting OGA can reverse these changes and reduce seizures.

A neuron-optimized CRISPR/dCas9 activation system for robust and specific gene regulation

This paper develops a neuron-optimized CRISPRa system for efficient and specific gene regulation in neurons and the adult brain.