Rafael Luján

Distinct NMDA Receptor Pools Determine Diverse Forms of Cortical Plasticity

The paper investigates the role of presynaptic and postsynaptic NMDA receptors in synaptic plasticity and circuit structure in mouse visual cortex.

Overlapping role of synaptophysin and synaptogyrin family proteins in determining the small size of synaptic vesicles

The paper shows that synaptophysin and synaptogyrin family proteins co-express with synapsin to generate small vesicles and that their absence leads to larger synaptic vesicles.

Activation of Shh/Smo is sufficient to maintain oligodendrocyte precursor cells in an undifferentiated state but is not necessary for differentiation

This study shows that Shh/Smo activation maintains oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) in an undifferentiated state but is not required for myelination or remyelination.

Neuronal lipofuscinosis caused by Kufs disease/CLN4 DNAJC5 mutations but not by a CSPα/DNAJC5 deficiency

This study creates mouse models overexpressing mutant CSP/DNAJC5 and shows they develop neuronal lipofuscinosis and GRODs, while CSP/DNAJC5 deficiency does not.

Retrograde adenosine/A2A receptor signaling facilitates excitatory synaptic transmission and seizures

This study identifies adenosine/A2A receptor retrograde signaling as a mechanism for presynaptic long-term potentiation and seizure promotion in hippocampal circuits.

Presynaptic NMDA receptors facilitate short-term plasticity and BDNF release at hippocampal mossy fiber synapses

Sensory neuron-derived Nav1.7 contributes to dorsal horn neuron excitability

This study shows that Nav1.7 from sensory neurons affects dorsal horn neuron excitability, with functional effects not predicted by mRNA levels.