Research | Jary Y. Delgado Ph.D.

Learning and memory are emergent properties of the brain. They are believed to arise from a series of cellular and molecular events that regulate synaptic strength. During my research career, I have studied molecular events at different time scales of physiology and below are my current research aims.

The role of mRNA methylation in learning & memory

I am working to further understand the role of mRNA modifications in striatal-dependent learning & memory. Specifically, my ongoing research involves evaluating the effects of mutants of the epitranscriptomic modification of mRNA known as N⁶-Methyladenosine (m⁶A) on long-term memory formation and its role in D1R and D2R MSN physiology.

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Identifying the nanoorganization of PSD-95 conformers at synapses

My recently published work shows that proline-directed phosphorylation and proline isomerization of T19 in PSD-95 is required for PSD-95 stability at synapses. The next goal for this research is to understand how the conformational changes of phospho-T19 alter the localization and stability of PSD-95 at synapses following synaptic plasticity.

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Biophysical studies of excitatory synapses

Over the past decade, I have used single-particle tracking of surface AMPA receptors to understand the role of their diffusion in synaptic transmission. My recent and ongoing efforts demonstrate that surface AMPA receptor diffusion is very limited and restricted to the synapse.

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