Our laboratory uses various molecular/cell neurobiology approaches to address two major questions. Question #1: What is the contribution of a nuclear substructure, the nucleolus and the nucleolus-based process of ribosome biogenesis to the regulation of neuronal gene expression programs as well as neuronal damage response? We are particularly interested in mechanisms that underlie requirement of neuronal ribosome synthesis for development and maintenance of the dendritic tree. In addition, we investigate role of ribosomal biogenesis stress (also known as nucleolar stress) in immature neuron apoptosis that is triggered by neurotropic RNA viruses such as Zika virus. Question #2: What are the mechanisms that mediate loss and/or maladaptive changes in neural cells after traumatic spinal cord injury? Our efforts are focused on determining role of the integrated stress response pathway in injury-induced death of oligodendrocytes, and, consequently, injury-associated loss of the spinal cord white matter. In addition, we are also interested in comprehensive analysis of gene expression programs that mediate oligodendrocyte- or sensory neuron responses to injury including identification of the master transcription factors driving such responses. To answer those questions we use cultured cells (neurons, oligodendrocytes or neuroprogenitors from rats, mice or human induced pluripotent stem cells) as well as whole mice (both wild type and various transgenic lines). Dendritic morphometry, apoptosis/cell survival analysis, mRNA/rRNA/protein expression analysis, DNA transfections, RNASeq, qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence analysis are routinely applied to those experimental systems.