email dubnau@cshl.edu, phone (516) 367-6999, fax (516) 367-8880

Our long-term goal is to understand
how animals remember past experiences. The biological mechanisms of memory are highly conserved through evolution. This means that many features of memory can be studied in simple organisms that are easy to manipulate. The immensely powerful genetic techniques that are feasible in fruit flies make for an ideal “model system” to study this problem (yes, flies have memory!).

The work in my lab consists of two experimental approaches. The first is to use DNA microarrays to identify genetic pathways that are involved in Pavlovian learning and memory. The assortment of genetic methods available in the fly allow us to conduct a systematic investigation of how these genes function in neuronal circuits during memory and learning. We have identified a gene pathway involved in the sub-cellular transport of mRNAs and the local control of their translation. We hypothesize that these genes are involved in selectively modifying specific synaptic connections in response to environmental experience. We are currently testing this idea with a series of behavioral and genetic strategies. Our second approach is to map the circuitry of memory. Using a genetically engineered variant of dynamin protein, we can transiently shut down specific groups of neurons in living animals. With this approach we can quickly take sub-regions of the brain “offline” and then moments later bring them “online” again. This technique allows us to dissect the complex circuitry that is involved in learning, in memory storage, and even in memory recall.

Selected Publications

Margulies, C., Tully, T., Dubnau, J. 2005. Deconstructing memory in Drosophila. Curr. Biol. 15: R700–R713.

Henry, G.L., Zito, K., and Dubnau, J. 2003. Chipping away at brain function: mining for insights with microarrays. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 4: 570–576.

Chen, G., Li, W., Zhang, Q.S,. Regulski, M., Sinha, N., Barditch, J., Tully T., Krainer A.R., Zhang, M. Q. and Dubnau, J. 2008. Identification of synaptic targets of Drosophila Pumilio. PLoS Comp. Biol. 4: e40.

Dubnau, J., Chiang, A.S., Grady, L., Barditch, J., Gossweiler, S., McNeil, J., Smith, P., Buldoc, F., Scott, R., Certa, U., Broger, C., and Tully, T. 2003 The staufen/pumilio pathway is involved in Drosophila long-term memory. Curr. Biol. 13: 286–296.

Dubnau, J., Grady, L., Kitamoto, T., and Tully, T. 2001 Disruptions of neurotransmission in Drosophila mushroom body blocks retrieval but not acquisition of memory. Nature 411: 476–480.