# Mechanisms of sensory neuron morphological diversification, signaling, and functional plasticity

> **NIH NIH R35** · BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $722,460

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The overall goal of NIGMS-funded research in my lab is to describe the molecular and cellular mechanisms by
which individual sensory neuron types acquire their distinctive morphologies and functions, and explore how
these properties are further shaped by the animal's experience and environment. In one area, we investigate
how sensory neurons in C. elegans elaborate cell type-specific cilia, organelles that house sensory signaling
molecules. In a second area, we characterize the mechanisms by which C. elegans exhibits highly sensitive
and experience-dependent responses to environmental temperature, a critical but poorly understood sensory
modality. These issues are interdependent; neuronal anatomy governs neuronal function, and conversely,
neuronal activity shapes neuronal morphology. Integrating these projects will not only allow us to continue our
ongoing successful research strategies, but will also enable us to initiate novel avenues of investigation. A first
major goal for the next several years is to develop a detailed understanding of the genetic pathways by which
ciliary morphological diversity is achieved. Structurally unique cilia are critical for the functions of specific
sensory neuron types in multiple species. Although ciliogenic mechanisms are now well-described, how
diversity in ciliary structures is generated is unclear. We plan to analyze mechanisms generating ciliary
morphological diversity in C. elegans, and also expand our analysis to mammalian cells. A second major goal
is to dissect the properties of a class of novel but conserved thermosensory molecules that we recently
described, and to explore how these proteins contribute to the extraordinary experience-dependent
thermosensitivity of a sensory neuron type. We will also examine how transcriptional and translational changes
in single thermosensory neuron types contribute to state- and experience-dependent plasticity in neuronal and
circuit properties to alter thermosensory behaviors. A particularly innovative goal is to combine our expertise in
neuronal cell biology and analysis of stimulus-evoked sensory responses to systematically describe how
sensory activity modulates cilia protein composition and neuronal function, and conversely, explore how cilia
architecture dictates sensory neuron response profiles. Under this combined award, we will be able to employ
our multifaceted experimental approach to broaden and deepen our analysis of neuronal form and function,
incorporate conceptual and experimental innovations to establish new research directions, and provide a more
integrative research training experience. Defects in cilia structure and function, as well as altered neuronal
signaling and plasticity, underlie a plethora of neurological disorders. Given the extensive conservation of
ciliogenic as well as neuronal pathways between mammals and C. elegans, we fully expect that findings from
this work will influence and guide related investigations in other ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10151634
- **Project number:** 5R35GM122463-05
- **Recipient organization:** BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Piali Sengupta
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $722,460
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-05-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10151634

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10151634, Mechanisms of sensory neuron morphological diversification, signaling, and functional plasticity (5R35GM122463-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10151634. Licensed CC0.

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