Oakland University · ChemistrySpinocerebellar Ataxia Research Lab
Adam Avery · Rochester Hills, Michigan
Research Focus
Dr. Adam Avery's lab at Oakland University focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind spinocerebellar ataxia type 5 (SCA5), a neurodegenerative disease that affects movement. The lab investigates how mutations in the spectrin protein disrupt the structure and function of dendritic cells, which play a crucial role in neuron signaling. By using Drosophila (fruit fly) models, they aim to elucidate how these mutations lead to impaired neuronal development and explore potential therapeutic approaches.
spinocerebellar ataxianeurodegenerationspectrinactin-bindingdendritic arborizationDrosophila modelsprotein interactionstherapeutic development
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how SCA5 mutations affect dendritic arborization in neurons.
AIM 02Elucidate the mechanisms regulating spectrin-actin binding in Drosophila models.
AIM 03Identify proteins interacting with wild-type and mutant spectrin.
AIM 04Conduct targeted genetic modifier screens to find potential modulators of SCA5 defects.
AIM 05Assess how tropomyosin influences spectrin function and neuron development.
Skills the Lab Values
Drosophila geneticsimmunoprecipitationmass spectrometrycell culturemicroscopymolecular cloningprotein purificationbioinformaticsRNA interference
Output against the department
Publications28bottom 5% of dept.205th of 216
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations255bottom 2% of dept.212th of 216
this lab
most citedleast cited
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