Research Department: Neuroscience Graduation Date: December 2018
Abstract: Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) has been identified as a candidate risk gene for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and macrocephaly. 1-5% of ASD patients present with mutations in the Pten gene and display increased brain mass, intellectual disability, and impaired social behavior. PTEN is an important negative regulator of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. As a lipid phosphatase, it directly counteracts phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) activity, thereby inhibiting the activation of AKT. This pathway is critically involved in mediating the activity of Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), a group of receptors increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, autism, and intellectual disability. Based on this evidence, we tested the hypothesis that PTEN plays a role in hippocampal synaptic plasticity mediated by Group 1 mGluRs. Alteration in the activity of these receptors may underlie some of the phenotypes caused by PTEN deletion.
What does research mean to you? Research at the fundamental level is applying the knowledge you learn in school to relevant questions in science. I am interested in translational research, with the advancement of medical knowledge beginning in the laboratory before reaching patients. Participating in the Green Fellows program gives you the time, resources, and autonomy to learn the ins and outs of investigating a topic that interests you.
Tell us about your journey. Prior to the Green Fellowship, I had research experience at UTD but knew that I wanted a more immersive and challenging experience. The learning curve at the beginning of the semester was very steep, since I was not used to working in a wet lab that ran biochemistry and electrophysiology experiments. I went from researching motor rehabilitation for stroke and nerve injuries at UTD to studying synaptic mechanisms underlying autism. This goes to show that there is an endless array of subjects to branch out to, even within your chosen field of study. I was fortunate enough to join a lab with friends and mentors who pushed me to both work hard and have fun.
Advice for Future Green Fellows
I would suggest getting into contact with your PI well before the start of the program and reading papers relevant to your lab. Don’t stress too much if you and your mentor/PI don’t decide on a project right away, since learning to plan a quality project is part of the experience itself. There will be some days when one small mistake, such as using the wrong buffer, can ruin a week’s work on an important (and sometimes expensive) experiment. Nevertheless, you are here to learn, so don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them. Ask plenty of questions and enjoy the science!