Contact information
Tel.: 514-934-1934 ext. 42520
yong [dot] rao [at] mcgill [dot] ca
Academic affiliations
Neurology and Neurosurgery
Biology
Research:
Axonal guidance and neuronal target selection
The first project in my lab is to study the molecular mechanism of axonal guidance and target recognition in the fly visual system. During embryonic development, axons can travel over relatively long distances and form precise connections with their target cells. The proper guidance and targeting of an axon rely on its ability to receive guidance signals from the surrounding environment and subsequently convert the signals into directed motility. Using a combination of biochemical, molecular and genetic approaches, we have identified several important genes required for axonal guidance and targeting. Our current focus is on investigating the signal transduction pathways in which these genes are involved.
The second project is to understand the molecular mechanism of neuronal migration. We use the fly developing eye as an in vivo model to dissect the signaling pathway for regulating neuronal migration during development. Our recent results indicate that the Ste20-like Ser/Thr kinase Msn is involved in a novel signaling pathway for regulating neuronal migration in the fly developing eye. Msn genetically interacts with DLis-1, the fly homolog of human Lis-1 that is required for the migration of cerebral cortical neurons in the development of the human brain. We are currently performing genetic analysis to isolate other key players essential for neuronal migration.