The major interest in my lab is to study the regulation of synaptic connections during development, maturity and aging. One major approach is to use state-of-the-art imaging methods to study the dynamics of synaptic proteins at single synapses in living animals. We are using a variety of fluorescents protein (YFP,GFP) transgenic and synaptic protein deficient mice to study the regulation of synaptic dynamics at simple and accessible synapse like the neuromuscular junction.

In addition to new optical imaging tools, we are using innovative molecular techniques to eventually better understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity at single synapses in normal and pathological situations.

Dr. Akaaboune received his DEA and Ph.D. from the University of Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris 6) in Paris, France. He was postdoctoral fellow in Lichtman's laboratory at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.