Gregory Talisker Macleod

The paper develops an optogenetic assay to assess motor neuron performance in Drosophila larvae by using light to induce body-wall contractions and analyzing their sustainability.

This study shows that phosphagen systems in Drosophila motor neurons are critical for sustaining neurotransmitter release at high firing frequencies, not for ATP provision.

The paper develops bichromatic fluorescent reporters in Drosophila to study voltage-gated Ca2+-channel splice-isoform diversity across neurons in vivo.

The paper analyzes ultrastructural data from C. elegans neurons to assess mitochondrial distribution relative to synapses, finding limited sub-cellular control over mitochondrial placement in fine caliber neurons.

The paper quantifies power demand fluctuations in motor nerve terminals and identifies phosphagen systems as critical for ATP buffering during synaptic activity.

The paper identifies physiological and nanoscale differences in glutamatergic synapses between tonic and phasic neurons at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.

The paper quantifies presynaptic energy demands and shows mitochondria scale with power demand in Drosophila motor nerve terminals.

The paper models pH dynamics in the synaptic cleft of Drosophila NMJ, showing rapid acidification followed by prolonged alkalinization, resolving the discrepancy between ASIC activation and pH measurements.

The paper shows Neto-α regulates synapse organization and homeostasis at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction through distinct functions in pre- and postsynaptic compartments.

The paper uses CRISPR to tag Ca2+ channels in Drosophila and shows they are differentially regulated during presynaptic homeostatic potentiation and depression.