Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Assistant Professor
Department of Neuroscience
458 Sidney Frank Hall of Life Sciences
Tel: (401) 863-9468
Email: Anna_Dunaevsky@Brown.edu
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The research in our lab focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the formation, maintenance, and modification of synapses in the central nervous system using live imaging approaches. In one model used in the lab, the synapse between parallel fibers (granule cell axons) and Purkinje cell dendritic spines is studied in cerebellar slices and in vivo using multiphoton microscopy. This approach allows us to examine the cellular interactions between the pre and postsynaptic cells in real time, before and after synapse formation. We are also combining live imaging with immunocytochemical and ultrastructural analysis to study the process of acquisition of synaptic specialization.

Recently, glial cells have been shown to play an active role in regulating synaptic development and function. In another project we are investigating the role of cerebellar glial cells in regulating Purkinje cell dendritic spine morphogenesis and stabilization during development. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms that underlie the cross talk between spines and glial processes, with a focus on the role Eph receptor tyrosine kinase signaling.

Experience-dependent regulation of synaptic strength has long been hypothesized to be the physiological basis of learning and memory. In addition to our developmental projects, we study the cellular and synaptic mechanisms of learning-induced plasticity in the neocortex. A well-established plasticity model is used in which rats are trained in a skilled motor task, leading to a persistent increase in the strength of synaptic connections in the motor cortex. Following training we use imaging, electrophysiological and molecular approaches to determine learning induced changes in synaptic structure, function and molecular composition.

Teaching

BN104 Developmental Neurobiology.

BN193 Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Development

Rioult-Pedotti, M.S., Donoghue, J.P. and Dunaevsky, A. (2007) Plasticity of the synaptic modification range. J Neurophysiol. 98(6):3688-95

Dunaevsky, A. and Woolley, C.S. (2006) Structural Plasticity of Dendrites. In Dendrites. Oxford University Press, New York, In press

Shrestha, B., Vitolo, O.V., Joshi, P., Lordkipanidze, T., Shelanski, M.T. and Dunaevsky, A. (2006) Amyloid b- peptide adversely affects spine number and motility in hippocampal neurons. Mol Cell Neurosci.  33:274-282

Harms, K.J. and Dunaevsky, A. (2006) Dendritic Spine Plasticity: Looking Beyond Development. Brain Res.

Lippman, J. and Dunaevsky, A.  (2005) Dendritic Spine Morphogenesis and Plasticity. J. Neurobiol. 64: 47-57

Lordkipanidze, T. and Dunaevsky, A. (2005) Purkinje cell dendrites grow in alignment with Bergmann glia. Glia 51: 229-234.

Deng, J. and Dunaevsky, A. (2005) Dynamics of dendritic spines and their afferent terminals: spines are more motile than presynaptic boutons. Develop. Biol. 277(2):366-77.
Lippman, J. and Dunaevsky, A. (2005)  Dendritic Spine Morphogenesis and Plasticity. J. Neurobiol.  64 (1):47-57.

Dunaevsky, A. (2004) Connecting the dots: From actin polymerization to synapse formation. Neuron 44 (2):216-8.

Tashiro A., Dunaevsky, A., Blazeski, R., Mason, C.A. and Yuste, R. (2003) Bidirectional Regulation of Hippocampal Mossy fiber filopodial motility by Kainate Receptors: A two-step model of synaptogenesis. Neuron 38; 1-20.

Dunaevsky, A. and Mason, C.A. (2003) Spine motility: A means towards an end? TINS 26; 155-160.  

Dunaevsky, A., Blazeski, R., Yuste, R. and Mason, C.A. (2001) Spine motility with synaptic contacts. Nature Neurosci. 4; 685-686.

Dunaevsky, A. and Connor, E.A. (2000) F-Actin is concentrated in nonrelease domains at frog neuromuscular junctions. J. Neurosci. 20: 6007-6012.  

Dunaevsky, A., Tashiro, A., Majewska, A., Mason, C., and Yuste, R., (1999) Developmental regulation of spine motility in the mammalian central nervous system. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 96: 13438-13443.  

Dunaevsky, A. and Connor, E.A. (1998) Stability of frog motor nerve terminals in the absence of target muscle fibers. Dev Biol. 194(1): 61-71.

Dunaevsky, A. and Connor, E.A. (1995) Long-term maintenance of presynaptic function in the absence of target muscle fibers. J. Neurosci. 15: 6137-6144.