Department: Division of Molecular Neurosciences
Head: Harkany, Tibor, Univ. Prof. Dr., MSc., Ph.D, MAE
Research Area
developmental neurobiology, synaptic neurotransmission and endocrinology
Description
Elucidating the molecular blueprint of developing organ systems has attracted intense research during the past century. Our work is dedicated towards understanding and linking critical contributions of bioactive lipids and sensor-modulated intracellular calcium signals during histogenesis, with particular emphasis on forebrain development in the nervous system, as well as the molecular regulation of the HPA stress axis and endorine pancreas.
With regards to translational significance, we are working towards characterizing i) the molecular basis of cannabis action in utero, ii) the molecualr machinery underpinning corticotropin release at the median eminence upon stressful stimuli and iii) the acquiring and maintenance of cell identity in the developing hypothalamus.
Our group performs multi-parametric research, encompassing the intense use of array technologies (RNA-seq, proteomics), electrophysiology, protein biochemistry and morphology/imaging upon experimental manipulations of in vitro (cellular) model systems and in vivo. Critically, we correlate experimental outcomes with (neuro-)pathology data from human subjects whenever possible. Our drive towards multidisciplinarity is apparent in the combination of the unique and complementary knowledge of our group members.
Members
Selected Publications of Principle Investigator
- Benevento M, Alpár A, Gundacker A, Afjehi L, Balueva K, Hevesi Z, Hanics J, Rehman S, Pollak D, Lubec G, Wulff P, Prevot V, Horvath T, Harkany T (2024) A brainstem–hypothalamus neuronal circuit reduces feeding upon heat exposure Nature, online
- Korchynska S, Rebernik P, Pende M, Boi L, Alpár A, Tasan R, Becker K, Balueva K, Saghafi S, Wulff P, Horvath T, Fisone G, Dodt H, Hökfelt T, Harkany T, Romanov R (2022) A hypothalamic dopamine locus for psychostimulant-induced hyperlocomotion in mice Nat Commun, 13 (1)
- Keimpema E, Di Marzo V, Harkany T (2021) Biological basis of cannabinoid medicines Science, 374 (6574): 1449-1450
- Stagkourakis S, Smiley K, Williams P, Kakadellis S, Ziegler K, Bakker J, Brown R, Harkany T, Grattan D, Broberger C (2020) A Neuro-hormonal Circuit for Paternal Behavior Controlled by a Hypothalamic Network Oscillation Cell, 182 (4): 960-975.e15
- Romanov R, Tretiakov E, Kastriti M, Zupancic M, Häring M, Korchynska S, Popadin K, Benevento M, Rebernik P, Lallemend F, Nishimori K, Clotman F, Andrews W, Parnavelas J, Farlik M, Bock C, Adameyko I, Hökfelt T, Keimpema E, Harkany T (2020) Molecular design of hypothalamus development Nature, 582(7811): 246-252
- Alpár A, Zahola P, Hanics J, Hevesi Z, Korchynska S, Benevento M, Pifl C, Zachar G, Perugini J, Severi I, Leitgeb P, Bakker J, Miklosi AG, Tretiakov E, Keimpema E, Arque G, Tasan RO, Sperk G, Malenczyk K, Máté Z, Erdélyi F, Szabó G, Lubec G, Palkovits M, Giordano A, Hökfelt TG, Romanov RA, Horvath TL, Harkany T. (2018) Hypothalamic CNTF volume transmission shapes cortical noradrenergic excitability upon acute stress EMBO J., 37: e100087
- Fuzik J, Zeisel A, Máté Z, Calvigioni D, Yanagawa Y, Szabó G, Linnarsson S, Harkany T (2015) Integration of electrophysiological recordings with single-cell RNA-seq data identifies neuronal subtypes Nat Biotechnol, 34 (2): 175-183