Nathaniel Heintz

Reconstructing the developmental history of the cortex from postmortem tissue

This paper reconstructs the developmental history of the cortex from postmortem tissue by analyzing cell distribution and estimating stem cell proliferation rates.

GPCRs as Targets for Human Brain Modulation: A Multi-omic Atlas of Cell-Type Specific Expression

This study presents an atlas of orphan GPCR expression across the human brain for translational targeting.

Loss of interruption in the HTT CAG repeat is associated with increased somatic expansion and loss of medium spiny neurons in HD

The paper shows that loss of interruption in HTT CAG repeats increases somatic expansion and MSN loss in HD, with greater effects in patients with CAG-CCG LOI.

Artificial Intelligence-driven Whole-brain Cell Mapping with Highly Multiplexed In Situ Hybridization

The paper introduces mFISH3D, a multiplexed staining technique combined with AI for high-resolution whole-brain cell mapping in mice and humans.

Divergent mitochondrial and metabolic adaptations shape selective vulnerability in ALS

The paper identifies divergent mitochondrial and metabolic profiles between ALS-vulnerable and resilient neurons, revealing how these differences contribute to selective vulnerability in ALS.

Epigenetic mechanisms governing cell type specific somatic expansion and toxicity in Huntington's disease

This study identifies epigenetic mechanisms linking cell type-specific enhancer activity to somatic CAG expansion and toxicity in Huntington's disease.

Identification of a Thermogenic Target in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus for Weight Management

This study identifies a novel target for obesity treatment by showing that inhibiting GABAergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus reduces body weight in diet-induced obese mice through thermogenesis.

Open-source Photobleacher for Fluorescent Imaging of Large Pigment-Rich Tissues

The paper introduces an open-source photobleacher to quench endogenous pigments in tissues, enabling high-contrast fluorescent imaging for multiplexed molecular analysis.

Spontaneously regenerative corticospinal neurons in mice

The paper identifies a class of spontaneously regenerative corticospinal neurons in mice that project ipsilaterally and share molecular features with embryonic-like regenerating neurons.

Estrus-Tracking Cortical Neurons Integrate Social cues and Reproductive states to Adaptively Control Sexually Dimorphic Sociosexual Behaviors

The paper identifies mPFCCacna1h+ neurons that integrate hormonal states and social cues to control sexually dimorphic sociosexual behaviors in females and males.

Opto-CLIP reveals dynamic FMRP regulation of mRNAs upon CA1 neuronal activation

This study uses Opto-CLIP to examine how FMRP regulates mRNAs in CA1 neurons after activation, showing distinct dynamics in cell body and synapse.

Cell Type Specific CAG Repeat Expansions and Toxicity of Mutant Huntingtin in Human Striatum and Cerebellum

The paper investigates CAG repeat expansions and their association with cell death in specific brain regions in Huntington's disease using molecular profiling.

Selective Vulnerability of Layer 5a Corticostriatal Neurons in Huntington's Disease

The paper identifies layer 5a corticostriatal neurons as selectively vulnerable in Huntington's disease using single nucleus RNA sequencing and shows they have extensive mHTT-CAG expansions.

Multiplexed and scalable cellular phenotyping toward the standardized three-dimensional human neuroanatomy

The paper introduces a scalable staining/imaging technique for single-cell-resolution mRNA analysis in human brains and applies it to quantify cortical cytoarchitecture.

Unique molecular features and cellular responses differentiate two populations of motor cortical layer 5b neurons in a preclinical model of ALS.

The paper identifies molecular differences between two populations of motor cortical layer 5b neurons in an ALS model, showing Oxphos pathway regulation and reactive oxygen species handling as factors in selective degeneration.

5-hydroxymethylcytosine mediated active demethylation is required for neuronal differentiation and function

This study shows that 5hmC-mediated active demethylation is essential for neuronal differentiation and function in Purkinje cells.

Functional Analysis of Distinct Populations of Subthalamic Nucleus Neurons on Parkinson Disease and OCD-like Behaviors in Mice

The paper identifies Gabrr3-expressing neurons in the STN as critical for locomotion and OCD-like behaviors in mice, showing their potential for targeted therapeutic interventions.

Translational profiling of mouse dopaminoceptive neurons reveals a role of PGE2 in dorsal striatum

The paper identifies translational and splicing differences in dopaminoceptive neurons and highlights PGE2's role in enhancing D2 dopamine receptor function in the dorsal striatum.

Selective neuronal vulnerability in Alzheimer’s disease: a network-based analysis

This study identifies a functional gene module associated with selective neuronal vulnerability in Alzheimer’s disease using integrated molecular and genetic data from mice and humans.

De novo protein synthesis in distinct centrolateral amygdala interneurons is required for associative emotional memories

This study shows that de novo protein synthesis in specific CeL interneurons is required for storing threat memories and response inhibition.

Serotonin receptor 4 in mature excitatory hippocampal neurons modulates mood and anxiety

This study shows that knocking out 5-HT4R in mature hippocampal excitatory neurons leads to anxiety-like behaviors and neural dysfunction.

Chemogenetic evidence that rapid neuronal de novo protein synthesis is required for consolidation of long-term memory

The paper develops a chemogenetic tool to inhibit protein synthesis in specific neurons and shows it is required for long-term memory consolidation.

MeCP2 nuclear dynamics in live neurons results from low and high affinity chromatin interactions

This study uses live-cell imaging to show MeCP2 has unique diffusion and chromatin binding kinetics in neurons, distinct from transcription factors and histones.

Species and Cell-Type Properties of Classically Defined Human and Rodent Neurons and Glia

The paper identifies molecular differences between rodent and human neuronal and glial cell types using gene expression and epigenetic data from postmortem human brains.