Biography

About Dr. Beierlein

Dr. Beierlein received a Diploma in Biology at the University of Tübingen, Germany and obtained his PhD with Dr. Barry Connors at Brown University. He completed his postdoctoral studies with Dr. Rafael Yuste at Columbia University and with Dr. Wade Regehr at Harvard Medical School. In September 2007, Dr. Beierlein joined the faculty of the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth.

Areas of Interest

Research Interests

Synaptic And Local Circuit Dynamics In The Thalamocortical System

Neurons in local neuronal circuits are interconnected via synaptic connections that can experience dramatic changes in strength during ongoing neuronal activity. How synapses are regulated on a time scale of tens of milliseconds to tens of seconds is not well understood. Our laboratory uses a combination of electrophysiology, imaging, and optogenetics to explore the dynamic properties of distinct types of synapses in the thalamocortical system of rodents. We are particularly interested in the mechanisms underlying short-term synaptic plasticity and their importance for proper functioning of local neuronal circuits. Ultimately this knowledge will aid in understanding the computations performed in neuronal networks that mediate perception, memory formation and higher cognitive functions.

Publications

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  • Gibson, JR, Beierlein, M, Connors, BW. (1999) Two networks of electrically coupled inhibitory neurons in neocortex. Nature 402, 75-79.
  • Beierlein, M, Gibson, JR, Connors, BW. (2000) A network of electrically coupled interneurons drives synchronized inhibition in neocortex. Nat. Neurosci.3, 904-910.
  • Beierlein, M, Fall, CP, Rinzel, J, Yuste R. (2002) Thalamocortical bursts trigger recurrent activity in neocortical networks: layer 4 as a frequency-dependent gate. J. Neurosci. 22, 9885-9894.
  • Beierlein, M, Gibson, JR, Connors, BW. (2003) Two dynamically distinct inhibitory networks in layer 4 of the neocortex. J. Neurophysiol. 90, 2987-3000.
  • Beierlein, M, Gee, KR, Martin, VV, Regehr, WR. (2004) Presynaptic calcium measurements at physiological temperatures using a new class of dextran-conjugated indicators. J. Neurophysiol. 92, 591-599.
  • Beierlein, M, Regehr, WG. (2006) Brief bursts of parallel fiber activity trigger calcium waves in Bergmann glia. J. Neurosci. 26, 6958-6967.
  • Beierlein, M, Regehr, WG. (2006) Local interneurons regulate synaptic strength by retrograde release of endocannabinoids. J. Neurosci. 26, 9935-9943.
  • Beierlein, M, Fioravante, D, Regehr, WG. (2007) Differential expression of post-tetanic potentiation and retrograde signaling mediate target-dependent short-term synaptic plasticity. Neuron 54(6), 949-959.
  • Sun, Y-G, Beierlein, M. (2011) Receptor saturation controls short-term synaptic plasticity at corticothalamic synapses. J. Neurophysiol. 105, 2319-2329.
  • Sun, Y-G, Wu, C-S, Lu, H-C, Beierlein, M. (2011) Target-dependent control of synaptic inhibition by endocannabinoids in the thalamus. J. Neurosci. 31, 9222-9230.
  • Sun, Y-G, Wu, C-S, Renger, JJ, Uebele, VN, Lu, H-C, Beierlein, M. (2012) GABAergic synaptic transmission triggers action potentials in thalamic reticular nucleus neurons. J. Neurosci. 32, 7782-7790.
  • Sun, Y-G, Pita Almenar, JD, Wu, CS, Renger, JJ, Uebele, VN, Lu, H-C, Beierlein, M. (2013) Biphasic cholinergic synaptic transmission in the thalamic reticular nucleus. J. Neurosci. 33, 2248-2259.
  • Pita-Almenar, JD, Yu, D, Lu, H-C, Beierlein, M. (2014) Mechanisms underlying desynchronization of cholinergic-evoked thalamic network activity. J. Neurosci. 34, 14463-14474.
  • Sun, Y-G, Rupprecht, V, Zhuo, L, Dasgupta, R, Seibt, M, Beierlein, M. (2016) mGluR1 and mGluR5 synergistically control cholinergic synaptic transmission in the thalamic reticular nucleus. J. Neurosci. 36, 7886-7896.
  • Dasgupta, R., Seibt, F., and Beierlein, M. (2018) Synaptic release of acetylcholine rapidly suppresses cortical activity by recruiting muscarinic receptors in layer 4. J. Neurosci. 38, 5338-5350.
  • O’Malley, JJ, Seibt, F, Chin, J and Beierlein, M (in press) TRPM4 conductances in thalamic reticular nucleus neurons generate persistent firing during slow oscillations. J. Neurosci.
  • Singer, A, Dutta, S, Lewis, E, Chen, Z, Chen, JC, Verma, N, Avants, B, Feldman, AK, O’Malley, J, Beierlein, M, Kemere, C, Robinson, JT (in press) Magnetoelectric materials for miniature, wireless neural stimulation at therapeutic frequencies. Neuron