Pillai Lab

My lab is interested in fundamental aspects of eukaryotic gene regulation by non coding RNAs and histone variants, specifically in neural systems. Neurons and glia are the major cell types present in the brain. Although they arise from the same neural stem cells, they have distinctly different properties that they acquire during development. We are interested in identifying non-coding RNAs and histone variants that participate in this differentiation program. My lab has shown that pathogenic polyglutamine expansion leads to specific defects in the expression of microRNAs and targets involved in neuronal survival. We knocked down a critical microRNA in the mouse brain using anti-sense agents leading to ataxia.



An interesting finding from our lab is that a microRNA involved in neurogenesis is maternally inherited. Knockdown of this microRNA leads to developmental defects in the zebrafish brain.



The ability of neurons to regenerate under the influence of extrinsic factors offers a less-explored avenue for therapeutic development. We are also trying to isolate and characterize potential neurogenesis inducing factors from natural sources.