Tsien Lab - Rachel Groth

Rachel Groth

rgroth @ stanford.edu

Post-Doctoral Fellow

BA, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN
PhD, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

A critical feature of the nervous system is its ability to modulate synaptic transmission in response to particular spatial and temporal patterns of neuronal firing. Indeed, activity-dependent changes in synaptic strength have been well documented and are thought to form the basis of learning and memory. Interestingly, chronic inactivity can also lead to modifications in synaptic strength. I’m interested in elucidating the molecular mechanisms that underlie these inactivity-driven changes, and in particular, understanding how adaptation to inactivity is affected by intrinsic properties and connectivity of neurons in a network.

Selected Publications

Groth RD, Coicou LG, Mermelstein PG, Seybold VS (2006) Neurotrophin Activation of NFAT-Dependent Transcription Within Primary Afferent and Spinal Neurons Contributes to Expression of Pro-Nociceptive Genes. (in press).

Groth RD and Mermelstein PG (2006) NFAT-Dependent Gene Expression in the Nervous System: A Critical Mediator of Neurotrophin-Induced Plasticity. In: Transcriptional Regulation by Neuronal Activity. (Dudek S, ed) (in press).

Seybold VS, Coicou LG, Groth RD, Mermelstein PG (2006) Substance P initiates NFAT-dependent gene expression in spinal neurons. J Neurochem. 97(2):397-407. PubMed

Bradley KC, Groth RD, Mermelstein PG (2005) Immunolocalization of NFATc4 in the adult mouse brain. J Neurosci Res. 82(6):762-70. PubMed

Boulware MI, Weick JP, Becklund BR, Kuo SP, Groth RD, Mermelstein PG (2005) Estradiol activates group I and II metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling, leading to opposing influences on cAMP response element-binding protein. J Neurosci. 25(20):5066-78. PubMed

Groth RD, Dunbar RL, Mermelstein PG (2003) Calcineurin regulation of neuronal plasticity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 311(4):1159-71. PubMed

Groth RD, Mermelstein PG (2003) Brain-derived neurotrophic factor activation of NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells)-dependent transcription: a role for the transcription factor NFATc4 in neurotrophin-mediated gene expression. J Neurosci. 23(22):8125-34. PubMed

Weick JP, Groth RD, Isaksen AL, Mermelstein PG (2003) Interactions with PDZ proteins are required for L-type calcium channels to activate cAMP response element-binding protein-dependent gene expression. J Neurosci. 23(8):3446-56. PubMed

Seybold VS, McCarson KE, Mermelstein PG, Groth RD, Abrahams LG (2003) Calcitonin gene-related peptide regulates expression of neurokinin1 receptors by rat spinal neurons. J Neurosci. 23(5):1816-24. PubMed

Groth R, Aanonsen L (2002) Spinal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) produces hyperalgesia in normal mice while antisense directed against either BDNF or trkB, prevent inflammation-induced hyperalgesia. Pain. 100(1-2):171-81. PubMed

Tilden AR, Alt J, Brummer K, Groth R, Herwig K, Wilson A, Wilson S (2001) Influence of photoperiod on N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin in the fiddler crab Uca pugilator. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 122(3):233-7. PubMed