Contact
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB)
Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH)
Nikolaou Plastira 100
GR-70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Maria Monastirioti (Staff Scientist)
Senior Staff Scientist
We are interested in a) biological processes underlying the establishment of cellular fate and function within nervous system and b) how neuronal function and neuroactive molecules impact the physiology and behaviour of an organism. For our studies we use the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster a model organism with a wide repertoire of technical advances that allow manipulation of its genome and more importantly the study of the resulting effects on the viability, behaviour and physiology at the whole organism level. Our research lines relate to
a) the mechanisms (intercellular communication and transcriptional regulation) governing neuronal and non-neuronal cell fate determination focusing on Notch signalling and its effectors in the establishment of distinct identities of post mitotic cells.
b) the development of neurochemical specificity of distinct neuronal cell types in the mature nervous system. We center on the regulation of the Tyramine β-hydroxylase (Tβh) gene that characterises the neuronal populations producing Octopamine, a Noradrenaline analogue that controls many physiological processes and behaviours in insects. Through the molecular genetics of Tβh gene, we also pursue generation and analysis of Octopamine deficient insects with an emphasis in their reproductive activity and their response to stress.