More about research in the O'Kane Lab
We use Drosophila as a model organism to study synapse function. Questions of major interest include the mechanisms of synaptic vesicle trafficking, and the roles of cellular trafficking pathways in the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent work includes characterisation of Drosophila Eps15, identification of signaling pathways that affect pathogenicity in Drosophila models of Huntington's disease, and characterisation of a new Drosophila model of hereditary spastic paraplegia. I also have a long standing interest in targeted expression strategies to study Drosophila circuitry and manipulate neurons in the living brain. We apply a variety of genetic, molecular, biochemical, imaging and behavioural tools to address these interests.
The O'Kane Lab also has a webpage at http://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?cokane
At right: Drosophila motor neuron terminals, showing exocytic active zones (green) surrounded by endocytic zones (magenta). Source: Y.P. Wairkar, I.M. Robinson and C.J. O'Kane. Please click on image for enlargement
The image is made to be as colour-blind-friendly as possible. Any overlap between magenta and green would appear white. Most colour-blind people (about 8% of males; you probably know some without realising it) cannot easily interpret red-green double labelling. Changing red to magenta in Adobe Photoshop is trivial, and solves most problems in two-colour images. See: http://jfly.iam.u-tokyo.ac.jp/color/
Recent publications
The Cambridge Neuroscience webpage at http://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?cokane lists key publications and links to abstracts via PubMed
More about my past and present..
Please click HERE
Funding and support for myself and Lab members
Location
My group uses the following areas and facilities :
- A molecular biology open plan lab in Room 238, which we share with the Ashburner and Russell Groups
- A temperature-controlled room (237), with a Zeiss Axioskop DIC/fluorescence microscope, an Olympus BX50WI fixed-stage fluorescence microscope, an Axopatch 200B elecrophysiology rig, and a timelapse live imaging facility
- A modern Drosophila culture facility in Room 115, shared with other fly groups in the department
- Access to other departmental facilities including confocal microscopes
Page updated: 31 January 2012