I am interested in the control of behavior by neuropeptides and the circadian (biological) clock. For several years my lab has investigated the neuroendocrine control of ecdysis, a stereotyped behavior used by insects to shed their old exoskeleton at the end of each molt, and which serves as an excellent model for understanding how neuropeptides trigger complex behavioral routines. We have taken advantage of the powerful genetic and molecular tools available in Drosophila to understand the role of each neuropeptide, and how they act in concert to cause the expression the ecdysial sequence. We also investigate the mechanism by which the circadian clock controls the time of adult ecdysis. For most stages, ecdysis is turned on when the molt is completed. By contrast, ecdysis to the adult (also known as eclosion) is also controlled by the circadian clock, which restricts (“gates”) eclosion to the morning or evening periods, depending on the insect species. Since we know a lot about how the fly’s clock runs and how eclosion behavior (the clock’s output) is regulated, the gating of eclosion by the circadian clock is an excellent system for investigating how this clock imposes a daily rhythmicity to behavioral and physiological outputs.
Proyectos y Fondos
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Proyecto de Exploración 2024, No: 13240159
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Validación de un protocolo de manejo de luz y oscuridad para modificar el reloj biológico de conductores durante los turnos nocturnos con el fin de mejorar su desempeño y salud
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Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso (CINV)