Benjamin Russell Arenkiel, Ph.D.
Picture
Positions
- Professor
-
Molecular and Human Genetics
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX US
- Professor
-
Neuroscience
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas United States
- McNair Scholar
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas United States
Education
- Postdoctoral Fellowship at HHMI-Duke University
- 11/2010 - Durham, North Carolina United States
- PhD from University Of Utah School of Medicine
- 10/2004 - Salt Lake City, Utah United States
- BS from St. Cloud State University
- 06/1998 - St. Cloud, Minnesota United States
Honors & Awards
- TAMEST O'Donell Award in Medicine
- Kenneth Scott Outstanding Mentorship Award
- Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Award
- Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Faculty Excellence Award
- Marc Dresden Award for Excellence in Graduate Education
- Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program Award
- Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in the Neurosciences
- NARSAD Independent Investigator Award
- Simmons Foundation CRF Award
- McNair Scholar in Neuroscience
- Brain & Behavior Res. Fndn. Alan Dutka Investigator
- NARSAD Young Investigator Award
- NINDS K99/R00 Career Transition Award
Professional Statement
The main focus of our research is to elucidate the basic mechanisms that guide the formation and maintenance of neural circuits in the mammalian brain. Using the mouse, we apply multifaceted experimental approaches that combine genetic engineering, optical imaging and electrophysiological recording techniques to better understand synapse and circuit function.The blueprints for most neural circuits are specified by innate, genetic mechanisms. However, circuit architecture and function can be strongly influenced by neural activity and sensory experience. Towards better understanding the interplay between experience, synaptic connectivity and circuit function, we are currently pursuing three main projects in our laboratory: 1) Identifying activity dependent- and neuropeptide signaling mechanisms that underlie synaptogenesis and circuit formation of adult-born neurons. 2) mapping functional connectivity of brain circuits, with emphasis on the olfactory system, basal forebrain and hypothalamus. 3) elucidating signaling and circuit mechanisms that govern feeding behavior.
The long-term goal of our research is to form a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that guide synapse and circuit formation, with the ultimate hope of gaining insight towards repairing or replacing damaged or diseased nervous tissue. At the heart of this experimentation is the continued effort to develop novel tools and techniques to mark and manipulate neurons and their associated circuits.
Websites
Selected Publications
- Liu G, Froudarakis E, Patel JM, Kochukov MY, Pekarek B, Hunt PJ, Patel M, Ung K, Fu CH, Jo J, Lee HK, Tolias AS, Arenkiel BR "Target specific functions of EPL interneurons in olfactory circuits." Nat Commun. 2019 Jul 29;10(1):3369. Pubmed PMID: 31358754
- Patel JM, Swanson J, Ung K, Herman A, Hanson E, Ortiz-Guzman J, Selever J, Tong Q, Arenkiel BR "Sensory perception drives food avoidance through excitatory basal forebrain circuits." Elife. 2019 May 10;8:pii: e44548. Pubmed PMID: 31074744
- Tepe B, Hill MC, Pekarek BT, Hunt PJ, Martin TJ, Martin JF, Arenkiel BR "Single-Cell RNA-Seq of Mouse Olfactory Bulb Reveals Cellular Heterogeneity and Activity-Dependent Molecular Census of Adult-Born Neurons." Cell Rep. 2018 Dec 4;25(10):2689-2703.e3. Pubmed PMID: 30517858
- McClard CK, Kochukov MY, Herman I, Liu Z, Eblimit A, Moayedi Y, Ortiz-Guzman J, Colchado D, Pekarek B, Panneerselvam S, Mardon G, Arenkiel BR "POU6f1 Mediates Neuropeptide-Dependent Plasticity in the Adult Brain." J Neurosci. 2018 Feb 7;38(6):1443-1461. Pubmed PMID: 29305536
- Quast KB, Ung K, Froudarakis E, Huang L, Herman I, Addison AP, Ortiz-Guzman J, Cordiner K, Saggau P, Tolias AS, Arenkiel BR "Developmental broadening of inhibitory sensory maps." Nat Neurosci. 2017 Feb;20(2):189-199. Pubmed PMID: 28024159
- Herman AM, Ortiz-Guzman J, Kochukov M, Herman I, Quast KB, Patel JM, Tepe B, Carlson JC, Ung K, Selever J, Tong Q, and Arenkiel BR "A cholinergic basal forebrain feeding circuit modulates appetite suppression.." Nature. 2016 Oct 13;538:253-256. Pubmed PMID: 27698417
- Huang L, Ung K, Garcia I, Quast KB, Cordiner K, Saggau P, Arenkiel BR "Task Learning Promotes Plasticity of Interneuron Connectivity Maps in the Olfactory Bulb." J. Neurosci.. 2016 Aug;36:8856-71. Pubmed PMID: 27559168
- Herman AM, Huang L, Murphey DK, Garcia I, Arenkiel BR "Cell type-specific and time-dependent light exposure contribute to silencing in neurons expressing Channelrhodopsin-2." Elife. 2014 Jan 28;3:e01481. Pubmed PMID: 24473077
- Garcia I, Quast KB, Huang L, Herman AM, Selever J, Deussing JM, Justice NJ, Arenkiel BR "Local CRH Signaling Promotes Synaptogenesis and Circuit Integration of Adult-Born Neurons." Dev Cell. 2014 Sep 3;30(6):645-59. Pubmed PMID: 25199688
- Garcia I, Huang L, Ung K, Arenkiel BR "Tracing Synaptic Connectivity onto Embryonic Stem Cell-derived Neurons." Stem Cells. 2012 Oct;30(10):2140-51. Pubmed PMID: 22996827
- Arenkiel BR, Ehlers MD "Molecular genetics and imaging technologies for circuit-based neuroanatomy." Nature. 2009 Oct 15;461(7266):900-7. Pubmed PMID: 19829369
- Arenkiel BR, Klein ME, Davison IG, Katz LC, Ehlers MD "Genetic control of neuronal activity in mice conditionally expressing TRPV1." Nat Methods. 2008 Apr;5(4):299-302. Pubmed PMID: 18327266
- Arenkiel BR, Peca J, Davison IG, Feliciano C, Deisseroth K, Augustine GJ, Ehlers MD, Feng G "In vivo light-induced activation of neural circuitry in transgenic mice expressing channelrhodopsin-2." Neuron. 2007 Apr 19;54(2):205-18. Pubmed PMID: 17442243
Funding
- - McNair Medical Institute
- - NIH - NINDS
- - NIH - NIDDK
- - NIH - NICHD
- - ( Department of Defense
Log In to edit your profile