microRNAs in neurons

MicroRNAs are a class of small, 21-23 nucleotide-long RNAs that bind to mRNAs and regulate their translation.  A major goal of our laboratory is to understand the roles of microRNAs in regulating neuronal function and brain development.  A major goal of our laboratory is to understand the role of axonally-localized and dendritically-localized microRNAs.  Our laboratory is currently uncovering roles for axonally localized microRNAs in processes such as axonal pathfinding, and synaptogenesis.