Research Topics
- Anatomy
- Autism
- Axon Guidance
- Axonal Growth and Degeneration
- Basal Ganglia
- Brain
- Cell Adhesion
- Cell Biology
- Cellular Differentiation
- Cerebral Cortex
- Cytoskeleton
- Developmental Neurobiology
- GABA
- Growth
- Growth Cone
- Hippocampus
- Imaging
- Integrins
- Knockout Mice
- Membrane Proteins/Channels
- Mental Retardation
- Microtubules
- Morphogenesis
- Neurobiology
- Neuroscience
- Neurotransmitters
- Parkinson's Disease
- Prefrontal Cortex
- Protein Trafficking & Sorting
- Protein Translation
- Proteomics
- Quantitative Neuroanatomy
- Synapses
- Synaptic Plasticity
- Synaptogenesis
- Systems Neuroscience
- Trafficking
- Transgenic Mice
- Translation
Training Areas
Education
Ph.D., University of California, Irvine
NeurosciencePostdoctoral Fellow, University of Virginia
NeuroscienceB.A., University of California, San Diego
Biography
- Visit Dr. Deanna Benson's Axon Guidance and Synaptogenesis for more information.
Awards
2005 -
MSSM Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Award
University of California2000 - 2005
Irma T. Hirschl Career Scientist Award
1992 - 1993
National Research Service Award
Research
Research
Specific Clinical/Research Interests:*Synapse targeting, assembly and plasticity and how these events are modified in human disease states including Autism, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Parkinson's Disease
Current Students: PhD: Kuangfu Hsiao, PhD: Bryan Sepulveda, Master's: Dawei Wu
Postdoctoral Fellows: Ioana Carcea
Research Personnel: Steven Mortillo, Roxana Mesias, John Mariani
Overview:
A striking feature of the mature central nervous systemis the precision of its synaptic circuitry. More than 20 billion neurons in the human brain are precisely connected with one another through trillions of synapses. Much of the wiring is established in the absence of neural activity or experience indicating that connectivity is largely encoded in the genetic program. Recent studies support that several devastating developmental diseases, including autism and schizophrenia, have as their root cause modifications in the genetic program that ultimately disrupt the balance of synaptic connections. In order to understand how synapse specificity is achieved, we investigate the mechanisms controlling axon guidance, synapse formation and synapse modification in the mammalian CNS.
Visit Dr. Deanna Benson's Axon Guidance and Synaptogenesis for more information.
Publications
Ellen J, Hoffman EJ, Mintz CD, Wang S, McNickle DG, Salton SJ, Benson DL. Effects of Ethanol on Axon Outgrowth and Branching in Developing Rat Cortical Neurons. Neuroscience;.
Mintz CD, Carcea I, McNickle DG, Dickson TC, Ge Y, Salton SJ, Benson DL. ERM proteins regulate growth cone responses to Sema3A. Journal of Comparative Neurology 2008; 510(4): 351-366.
Bekirov IH, Nagy V, Svoronos A, Huntley GW, Benson DL. Cadherin-8 and N-cadherin differentially regulate pre- and postsynaptic development of the hippocampal mossy fiber pathway. Hippocampus 2008; 18(4): 349-363.
Elste AM, Benson DL. Structural basis for developmentally regulated changes in cadherin function at synapses. Journal of Comparative Neurology 2006 Mar 20; 495(3): 324-35.
Bozdaqi O, Valcin M, Poskanzer K, Tanaka H, Benson DL. Temporally distinct demands for classic cadherins in synapse formation and maturation. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 2004 Dec; 4: 509-521.
Anderson TR, Shah PA, Benson DL. Maturation of glutamatergic and GABAergic synapse composition in hippocampal neurons. Neuropharmacology 2004; 47: 694-705.
Dickson TC, Mintz CD, Benson D, Salton SR. Functional binding interaction identified between the axonal CAM L1 and members of the ERM family. J Cell Biol 2002 Jun 24; 157(7): 1105-1112.
Benson DL, Colman DR, Huntley GW. Molecules, maps and synapse specificity. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2001; 2: 899-909.
Zhang W, Benson DL. Stages of synapse development defined by dependence on F-actin. Journal of Neuroscience 2001; 21: 5169-5181.
Bozdagi O, Shan W, Tanaka H, Benson DL, Huntley GW. Increasing numbers of synaptic puncta during late-phase LTP: N-cadherin is synthesized, recruited to synaptic sites, and required for potentiation. Neuron 2000; 28: 245-258.
Benson DL, Schnapp L, Shapiro L, Huntley GW. Making memories stick: Cell adhesion and synapse plasticity. Trends in Cell Biology 2000; 10: 473-482.
Sebeo J, Bozdagi O, Dumitriu D, Ge Y, Zhou Q, Benson DL. Activity-dependent requirement for protein synthesis at young synapses. Journal of Neuroscience 2009; 29(31): 9778-9793.
Hoffman EJ, Mintz CD, Wang S, McNickle DG, Salton SR, Benson DL. Effects of ethanol on axon outgrowth and branching in developing rat cortical neurons.. Neuroscience 2008; 157(3): 556-565.
Industry Relationships
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Dr. Benson did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2012 and/or 2013: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website at http://icahn.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.
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