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Verpelli, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Verpelli, C..

2 recordsLinked to original sources
bioRxiv2019

A Cre-amplifier to generate and detect genetic mosaics in vivo

Cre-Lox manipulation is the gold standard for cell-specific expression or knockout of selected genes. However, it is not unusual to deal with conditions of low Cre expression or transient activation, which can often go undetected by conventional Cre-reporters. We designed Beatrix, a general-purpose tool specifically devised to amplify weak Cre recombinase activity, and we used it to develop a powerful approach for the in vivo generation and detection of sparse mosaics of mutant and wild type cells.

neuroscience↗
bioRxiv2019

SULTA4A1 modulates synaptic development and function by promoting the formation of PSD-95/NMDAR complex

Sulfotransferase 4A1 (SULT4A1) is a cytosolic sulfotransferase, that is highly conserved across species and extensively expressed in the brain. However, the biological function of SULT4A1 is unclear. SULT4A1 has been implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Phelan-McDermid Syndrome and schizophrenia. Here, we investigate the role of SULT4A1 within neuron development and function. Our data demonstrate that SULT4A1 modulates neuronal branching complexity and dendritic spines formation. Moreover, we show that SULT4A1, by negatively regulating the catalytic activity of Pin1 towards PSD-95, facilitates NMDAR synaptic expression and function. Finally, we demonstrate that the pharmacological inhibition of Pin1 reverses the pathological phenotypes of SULT4A1 knockdown neurons by specifically restoring dendritic spine density and rescuing NMDAR-mediated synaptic transmission. Together, these findings identify SULT4A1 as a novel player in neuron development and function by modulating dendritic morphology and synaptic activity.

neuroscience↗