Information Brochure (pdf) - Physiology and Neurobiology ...

Selected Publications:
Jackson AC and Nicoll RA. (2011) Stargazing from a new
vantage - TARP modulation of AMPA receptor pharmacology
(Perspective). Journal of Physiology. 589: 5909-5910
Jackson AC and Nicoll RA. (2011) The Expanding Social
Network of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors: TARPs and Other
Transmembrane Auxiliary Subunits. (Review) Neuron. 70: 178-
199.
Jackson AC*, Milstein AD*, Soto D*, Farrant M, Cull-Candy
SG and Nicoll RA. (2011) Probing TARP modulation of AMPA
receptor conductance with polyamine toxins. Journal of
Neuroscience. 31: 7511-7520. *Equal contribution
Cavanaugh DJ*, Chesler A*, Jackson AC, Sigal YM, Yamanaka
H, Grant R, O’Donnell D, Nicoll RA, Shah N, Julius D, Basbaum,
AI. (2011) Trpv1 reporter mice reveal highly restricted brain
distribution and functional expression in arteriolar smooth muscle
cells. Journal of Neuroscience. 31: 5067-5077.
*Equal contribution
Jackson AC and Nicoll RA. (2011) Stargazin (TARP gamma-2)
is required for compartment-specific AMPA receptor trafficking
and synaptic plasticity in cerebellar stellate cells. Journal of
Neuroscience. 31: 3939-3952.
I joined the faculty of the Department of Physiology
and Neurobiology at the University of Connecticut
in September, 2013. Research in my laboratory
is focused on understanding how two interrelated
hypothalamic neural circuits operate at the cellular,
synaptic and circuit levels. One is the hypocretin/orexin
(Hcrt/Ox) system in the lateral hypothalamic
area (LHA) - a linchpin in the regulation
of arousal, reward and energy balance. Hcrt/Ox
neurons have been implicated in the stabilization of
sleep-wake states and their dysfunction has been
directly linked to human narcolepsy. Second is the
histaminergic (HA) system in the tuberomammillary
nucleus (TMN), which extends fibers throughout
the CNS and is well positioned to drive transitions
between global brain states and influence
attention and cognition. Despite advances in our
understanding of these systems, the fundamental
mechanisms underlying their function are poorly
understood at the cellular and systems level. This
gap is largely attributable to the heterogeneous,
complex and sparsely distributed nature of hypothalamic
neural circuits and the challenge of selectively
manipulating specific neuronal populations.
In order to overcome these technical obstacles in
studying hypothalamic circuits, I am taking a multidisciplinary
approach. Techniques are centered
on using patch-clamp electrophysiology and pharmacology
in brain slices from transgenic mice in
order to elucidate the cellular and synaptic properties
of specific hypothalamic cell-types and their
local and long-range connectivity. This approach
is carried out in concert with a toolbox of neuroanatomical
methods and optogenetic and pharmacogenetic
strategies to manipulate the excitability
of genetically targeted neurons, both in brain
slices and in awake and behaving animals. My
long-term research goal is to elucidate the cellular,
synaptic and circuit-level mechanisms through
which the Hcrt/Ox and HA systems, and interconnected
hypothalamic neuromodulatory circuits,
regulate fundamental behavioral states such as
sleep, wakefulness and energy balance, in health
and disease.
Lu W, Shi Y, Jackson AC, Bjorgan K, During MJ, Sprengel
R, Seeburg PH and Nicoll RA. (2009) Subunit composition
of synaptic AMPA receptors revealed by a single-cell genetic
approach. Neuron. 62: 254-268.
Jackson AC and Bean BP. (2007) State-dependent
enhancement of subthreshold A-type potassium current by
4-aminopyridine in tuberomammillary nucleus neurons. Journal
of Neuroscience. 27: 10785-10796.
Jackson AC, Yao GL and Bean BP. (2004) Mechanism of
spontaneous firing in dorsomedial suprachiasmatic nucleus
neurons. Journal of Neuroscience. 24: 7985-7998.
Roseberry AC, Liu HY, Jackson AC, Cai X and Friedman
JM. (2004) Neuropeptide Y-mediated inhibition of
proopiomelanocortin neurons in the arcuate nucleus shows
enhanced desensitization in ob/ob mice. Neuron. 41: 711-722.
Beaudet A, Jackson AC, and Vandenbulcke F. (2002)
Confocal and Electron Microscopic Tracking of Internalized
Neuropeptides and/or their Receptors. (Book Chapter) in A.
Merighi and G. Carmignoto (Editors), Cellular and Molecular
Methods in Neuroscience Research. Springer-Verlag New
York, Inc., 15-28