About Us

Research in our lab focuses on how and why disruptions in development alter the physiology of neurons and astrocytes in Cerebral Neocortex, and how such alterations cause pathologies in the developing brain. We have a particular interest in the impact of somatic mutations on the physiology of neurons and circuits in the developing neocortex. Research approaches in the lab are multidisciplinary with electrophysiological, genetic, and brain imaging components. Current projects involve using CRISPR/Cas9 methods and DNA transposons to model pediatric brain tumors and cortical dysplasias.

Publications

Chen F, Becker A, LoTurco J. Overview of Transgenic Glioblastoma and Oligoastrocytoma CNS Models and Their Utility in Drug Discovery. Curr Protoc Pharmacol. 2016 Mar 18;72:14.37.1-12. doi: 10.1002/0471141755.ph1437s72. Review. PubMed PMID: 26995546; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5043528. Link

Chen F, Rosiene J, Che A, Becker A, LoTurco J. Tracking and transforming neocortical progenitors by CRISPR/Cas9 gene targeting and piggyBac transposase lineage labeling. Development. 2015 Oct 15;142(20):3601-11. doi: 10.1242/dev.118836. PubMed PMID: 26400094; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4631763. Link

Che A, Truong DT, Fitch RH, LoTurco JJ. Mutation of the Dyslexia-Associated Gene Dcdc2 Enhances Glutamatergic Synaptic Transmission Between Layer 4 Neurons in Mouse Neocortex. Cereb Cortex. 2016 Sep;26(9):3705-18. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhv168. PubMed PMID: 26250775; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5004750. Link

Chen F, Becker AJ, LoTurco JJ. Contribution of tumor heterogeneity in a new animal model of CNS tumors. Mol Cancer Res. 2014 May;12(5):742-53. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-13-0531. PubMed PMID: 24501428; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4024448. Link

Full Publication Links: Google Scholar & NCBI

Contact Us

Phone: 860-486-3283
joseph.loturco@uconn.edu
Address: University of Connecticut, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology
Attention: LoTurco Lab
75 N Eagleville Road, PBB 123
Storrs, CT 06269