Arvind Govindarajan


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	Research Interests My research interests are in structural plasticity. Long term memory (LTM) and the late-phase of long-term potentiation (L-LTP) require mRNA and protein synthesis. Though the role of regulated transcription has traditionally been the focus of study in understanding this requirement for macromolecular synthesis, translational control is equally as important in LTM and L-LTP. Postdoctoral colleagues in the lab (Ray Kelleher, Hae-yoon Jung and Hyejin Kang) and I have found evidence of a central role for the ERK MAP Kinase pathway in activity dependent neuronal translation, L-LTP and LTM. We are following up on these studies with other work trying to elucidate the biochemical pathways underlying activity dependent translational regulation. I am also looking at structural plasticity in the context of disease. Specifically, depression, and PTSD have been associated with a reduction in hippocampal volume. Using BDNF overexpressing transgenic animals, we have looked at the role of BDNF in ameliorating the effects of chronic stress on hippocampal dendritic atrophy.
	Contact Information Arvind Govindarajan Graduate Student (Dept. of Biology) Tonegawa Lab The Picower Center for Learning & Memory Howard Hughes Medical Institute RIKEN-MIT Research Center Depts. of Biology & Brain and Cognitive Sciences 77 Massachusetts Ave. E18-313 Cambridge,MA 02139 USA Ph: +1 617 258 9410 Fax: +1 617 253 6269