The research in Dr. Lundell’s lab is primarily focused on how neurons in the CNS of Drosophila acquire unique cell fates during neurogenesis. In particular, they are examining the specification of neurons that synthesize serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter conserved throughout the animal kingdom and has been associated with locomotion, learning, memory and several human neural disorders. The serotonin cell lineage includes six cells: two serotonin producing neurons, a neuron that produces the neuropeptide corazonin, a motor neuron and two cells that undergo apoptosis.
Using a combination of molecular genetics, immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, the lab has characterized a number of genes that are essential in specifying these different cell fates and are investigating genetic interactions between these genes to establish a mechanism for serotonin cell specification. An understanding of the mechanism that leads to differentiation of serotonin neurons will provide molecular tools that can be used to investigate the physiological function of serotonin by altering serotonin levels in the CNS and examine the effect on fly behavior using various behavior paradigms.
In a separate collaborative project with Dr. Jan Vijg (Albert Einstein College of Medicine), the lab has been examining the mechanisms of mutagenesis in Drosophila and the relationship of mutagenesis to aging. This project uses a plasmid-based lacZ report system that allows selective retrieval of genome integrated lacZ genes that have undergone mutation. This reporter system permits both the measurement of mutation frequencies and the analysis of the different types of mutations that are acquired during development of the transformed animal.