Shlesha Richhariya

Abstract Mitochondrial fission and fusion are dynamic and important cellular processes, but the roles of these two very different mitochondrial forms, predominantly spherical and tubular are not well-characterized in neurons of animals and especially in aging neurons. This is important because neurons are long-lived and mitochondrial dynamics is associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

eLife assessment In Drosophila melanogaster, the SOCE channel Orai is required for the development of flight-promoting dopaminergic neurons. The Hasan laboratory has previously shown that disabling Orai function impairs Drosophila flight due to aberrant neuronal development at the pupal stage. In this fundamental study, Mitra et al.

Abstract Maturation and fine-tuning of neural circuits frequently requires neuromodulatory signals that set the excitability threshold, neuronal connectivity and synaptic strength. Here we present a mechanistic study of how neuromodulator stimulated intracellular Ca2+ signals, through the store - operated Ca2+ channel Orai, regulate intrinsic neuronal properties by control of developmental gene expression in flight promoting central dopaminergic neurons (fpDANs).