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Publications:

Melom, J.E. & Littleton, J. T. (2013) Mutation of a NCKX eliminates glial microdomain calcium oscillations and enhances seizure susceptibility. J. Neuroscience, In Press.

Lee, J., Guan, Z., Akbergenova, Y. & Littleton, J.T. (2013) Genetic analysis of Synaptotagmin C2 domain specificity in regulating spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release. J. Neuroscience, In Press.

Buhl, L.K., Jorquera, R.A., Akbergenova, Y., Huntwork-Rodriguez, S., Volfson, D. & Littleton, J.T. (2013) Differential regulation of evoked and spontaneous neurotransmitter release by C-terminal modifications of Complexin. Mol. Cell. Neuroscience 52, 161-172.

Weiss, K.R., Kimura, Y., Lee, W.M. & Littleton, J.T.  (2012) Huntingtin aggregation kinetics and their pathological role in a Drosophila Huntington’s Disease Model. Genetics 190, 581-600.

Jorquera, R.A., Huntwork-Rodriguez, S., Akbergenova, Y., Cho, R.W. & Littleton, J.T. (2012) Complexin controls spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release by regulating the timing and properties of Synaptotagmin activity. J. Neuroscience 32, 18234-18245.

Stevens, R., Akbergenova, Y., Jorquera, R.A. & Littleton, J.T. (2012) Abnormal synaptic vesicle biogenesis in Drosophila synaptogyrin mutants. J. Neuroscience 32, 18054-18067.

Guan, Z., Barr, L.K., Quinn, W. & Littleton, J.T. (2011) Altered gene regulation and synaptic morphology in Drosophila learning and memory mutants. Learning & Memory 18, 191-206.

Rodal, AA, Blunk, A.D., Akbergenova, Y., Jorquera, R.A., Buhl, L.K. & Littleton, J.T. (2011) A presynaptic endosomal trafficking pathway controls synaptic growth signaling. J. Cell Biology 193, 201-217.

Stevens, R.J. & Littleton, J.T. (2011) Synaptic growth: dancing with adducin. Current Biology 21, R402-405.

Melom, J.E. & Littleton, J. T. (2011) Synapse development in health and disease. Current Opinions in Genetics & Development 21, 256-261.

Schulte, J., Sepp, K., Wu, C., Hong, P. & Littleton, J.T. (2011) High-content chemical and RNAi screens for suppressors of neurotoxicity in a Huntington’s Disease model. PLoS ONE 6, e23841, 1-13.

Harris, K.P. & Littleton, J.T. (2011) Neuronal vesicle trafficking: a Rab family profile. Current Biology 21, R841-843.

Schulte, J. & Littleton, J.T. (2011) The biological function of the Huntington protein and its relevance to Huntington’s Disease pathology. Current Trends in Neurology 5, 65-78.

Schulte, J., Sepp, K., Jorquera, R.A., Wu, C., Song, Y., Hong, P. & Littleton, J.T. (2010) DMob4/Phocein regulates synapse formation, axonal transport, and microtubule organization. J. Neuroscience 30, 5189-5203.

Wu, C., Schulte, J., Sepp, K., Littleton, J.T. & Hong, P. (2010) Automatic robust neurite detection and morphological analysis of neuronal cell cultures in high-content screening. Neuroinformatics 8, 83-100.

Yoshihara, M., Guan, Z. & Littleton J.T. (2010) Differential regulation of synchronous versus asynchronous neurotransmitter release by the C2 domains of Synaptotagmin 1. PNAS 107, 14869-14874.

Cho, R., Song, Y. & Littleton, J.T. (2010) Comparative analysis of Drosophila and mammalian complexins as fusion clamps and facilitators of neurotransmitter release. Mol. Cell. Neuroscience 45, 389-397.

Zhang, S., Feany, M.B., Saraswati, S., Littleton, J.T. & Perrimon, N. (2009) Inactivation of Drosophila Huntingtin affects long-term adult functioning and the pathogenesis of a Huntington’s disease model. Disease Models & Mechanisms 2, 247-266.

Barber, C., Jorquera, R.A., Melom, J.E. & Littleton, J.T. (2009) Postsynaptic regulation of synaptic plasticity by Synaptotagmin 4 requires both C2 domains. J. Cell Biology 187, 295-310.

Rodal, A.A. & Littleton, J.T. (2008) Synaptic endocytosis: Illuminating the role of clathrin assembly. Current Biology 18, 259-261.

Rodal, A.A., Motola-Barnes, R.N. & Littleton, J.T. (2008) Nervous Wreck and Cdc42 cooperate to regulate endocytic actin assembly during synaptic growth.  J. Neuroscience 28, 8316-8325.

Kimura, Y., Lee, W.C. & Littleton, J.T. (2007) Therapeutic prospects for the prevention of neurodegeneration in Huntington’s Disease and the polyglutamine repeat disorders. Mini Rev. Med. Chem. 7, 99-106.

Barber, C. & Littleton, J. T. (2007) Synaptic Growth and Transcriptional Regulation in Drosophila, 253-275.  In: Regulation of Transcription by Neuronal Activity, Ed. S. Dudek, Springer Science Publishing @2007.

Saraswati, S., Adolfsen, B. & Littleton, J.T.  (2007) Characterization of the role of the Synaptotagmin family as calcium sensors in facilitation and asynchronous neurotransmitter release.  PNAS 104, 14122-14127.

Mattaliano, M.D., Montana, E.S., Parisky, K., Littleton, J.T., Griffeth, L.C. (2007) The Drosophila ARC homolog regulates behavioral responses to starvation.  Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 36, 211-221.

Huntwork, S. & Littleton, J.T. (2007) A complexin fusion clamp regulates spontaneous neurotransmitter release and synaptic growth.  Nature Neuroscience 10, 1235-1237.

 The Honey Bee Genome Sequencing Consortium (2006) Insights into social insects from the genome of the honeybee Apis mellifera.  Nature 443, 931-949.

Stilwell, G., Saraswati, S., Littleton, J.T. & Chouinard S.W.  (2006) Development of a Drosophila seizure model for in vivo high-throughput drug screening. Eur. J. Neuroscience 24, 2211-2222.

Montana, E.S. & Littleton, J.T. (2006) Expression profiling of a hypercontraction-induced myopathy in Drosophila suggests a compensatory cytoskeletal remodeling response. J. Biol. Chem. 281, 8100-8109.

 Littleton, J.T. (2006) Mixing and matching during synaptic vesicle endocytosis.  Neuron 51, 149-151.

Yoshihara, M., Adolfsen, B., Galle, K & Littleton J.T. (2005) Retrograde signaling by Syt 4 induces presynaptic release and synapse-specific growth.  Science 310, 858-863.

Guan, Z., Saraswati, S., Adolfsen, B. & Littleton, J.T. (2005) Genome-wide transcriptional changes associated with enhanced activity in the Drosophila nervous system.  Neuron 48, 91-107.

Montana, E.S. & Littleton, J.T. (2004) Characterization of a hypercontraction induced myopathy in Drosophila caused by mutations in Myosin heavy chain. J. Cell Biology 164, 1045-1054.

Wang, P., Saraswati, S., Guan, Z., Watkins, C., Wurtman, R.J. & Littleton, J.T. (2004) A Drosophila temperature-sensitive seizure mutant in phosphoglycerate kinase disrupts ATP generation and alters synaptic function.  J. Neuroscience 24, 4518-4529. 

Coyle, I., Koh, Y-H., Lee, W.C.M, Slind, J., Fergestad, T., Littleton, J.T. & Ganetzky, B. (2004)  Nervous Wreck, an SH3 adapter protein that interacts with Wsp, regulates synaptic growth in Drosophila.  Neuron 41, 521-534.

Lee, W.C., Yoshihara, M. & Littleton, J.T. (2004) Cytoplasmic aggregates trap polyglutamine-containing proteins and block axonal transport in a Drosophila model of Huntington’s Disease.  PNAS 101, 3224-3229.

Adolfsen, B., Saraswati, S., Yoshihara, M. & Littleton, J.T (2004) Synaptotagmins are trafficked to distinct subcellular domains including the postsynaptic compartment.  J. Cell Biology 166, 249-260.

Rieckhof, G.E., Yoshihara, M., Guan, Z. & Littleton, J.T. (2003) Presynaptic N-type calcium channels regulate synaptic growth.  J. Biol. Chem. 278, 41099-41108.

Littleton, J.T. & Sheng, M. (2003) Synapses unplugged.  Nature 423, 931-932.

Yoshihara, M., Adolfsen, B. & Littleton, J.T. (2003) Is synaptotagmin the calcium sensor?  Current Opinions in Neurobiology 13, 315-323.

Yoshihara, M. & Littleton, J.T. (2002) Synaptotagmin I functions as a calcium sensor to synchronize neurotransmitter release.  Neuron 36, 897-908.

Littleton, J.T., Vyas, B., Bai, J., Desai, R.C., Garment, M.B., Carlson, S.D., Ganetzky, B. & Chapman, E.R.  (2001) synaptotagmin mutants reveal essential functions for the C2B-domain in Ca²⁺-triggered fusion and recycling of synaptic vesicles.  J. Neuroscience 21, 1421-1433.

Littleton, J.T., Barnard, R.J., Titus, S., Slind, J., Chapman E.R. & Ganetzky, B.  (2001) SNARE complex disassembly by NSF follows synaptic vesicle fusion.  PNAS 98, 12233-12238.

Adolfsen, B. & Littleton, J.T.  (2001) Genetic and molecular analysis of the synaptotagmin family.  Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 58, 393-402.

Yoshihara, M., Ensminger, A. & Littleton, J.T. (2001) Neurobiology and the Drosophila genome.   Functional & Integrative Genomics 1, 235-240. 

Desai, R.C., Vyas, B., Earles, C., Littleton, J.T., Kowalchyck, J.A., Martin, T.F.J. & Chapman, E.R.  (2000) The C2B domain of synaptotagmin is a Ca²⁺-sensing module essential for exocytosis. J. Cell Biology 150, 1125-1135.

Rubin, G.M., et al. (2000) Comparative genomics of the eukaryotes.  Science 287, 2204-2215.

Littleton, J.T. & Ganetzky, B. (2000) Ion Channels and Synaptic Organization: Analysis of the Drosophila Genome.  Neuron 26, 35-43.

Littleton, J.T. (2000) A genomics perspective on membrane trafficking and neurotransmitter release in Drosophila.  J. Cell Biology 150, F77-F81.

Littleton, J.T., Pallanck, L. & Ganetzky, B.  (1999)  Mechanisms of neurotransmitter release. Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 43, 139-61; in Neuromuscular Junctions in Drosophila, Eds. Vivian Budnik and L. Sian Gramates, Academic Press @1999.

Littleton, J.T., Sereno T.L., Rubin, G.M., Ganetzky, B. & Chapman E.R. (1999) Synaptic function modulated by changes in the ratio of synaptotagmin I and IV.  Nature  400, 757-600.

Wu, M.N., Littleton, J.T., Bhat, M.A., Prokop, A. & Bellen, H.J. (1998) ROP, the Drosophila Sec1 homolog, interacts with syntaxin and regulates neurotransmitter release in a dosage dependent manner.  EMBO J. 17, 127-139.

Littleton, J.T., Chapman, E.R., Kreber, R., Garment, M.B., Carlson, S.D. & Ganetzky, B. (1998) Temperature-sensitive paralytic mutations demonstrate that synaptic exocytosis requires SNARE complex assembly and disassembly.  Neuron  21, 401-413.

Littleton, J.T., Bhat, M.A. & Bellen, H.J. (1997) Deciphering the role of neurexins at cellular junctions.  J. Cell Biology 137, 793-796.

Baumgartner S.*, Littleton, J.T.*, Broadie, K., Bhat, M., Harbecke, R., Lengyel, J., Chiquet-Ehrismann, R., Prokop, A. & Bellen, H.J. (1996)  A Drosophila neurexin is required for septate junction and blood-nerve barrier formation and function.  Cell 87, 1059-1068.  *Equal Contribution. 

Littleton, J.T., Upton, L. & Kania, A. (1995) Immunocytochemical analysis of axonal outgrowth in synaptotagmin mutations.  J. Neurochemistry  65, 32-40.

Littleton, J.T. & Bellen, H.J. (1995) Presynaptic proteins involved in exocytosis in Drosophila melanogaster:  a genetic analysis.  Invertebrate Neuroscience  1, 3-13.

Littleton, J.T. & Bellen, H.J. (1995) Synaptotagmin controls and modulates synaptic vesicle fusion in a calcium dependent manner.  Trends in Neurosciences  18, 177-183.

Littleton, J.T. & Bellen, H.J.  (1994) Genetic and phenotypic analysis of 13 essential genes in cytological interval 22F1-2; 23B1-2 reveals novel genes required for neuronal development in Drosophila.  Genetics 138, 111-123.

Littleton, J.T., Stern, M., Perin, M. & Bellen, H.J. (1994) Calcium dependence of neurotransmitter release and rate of spontaneous vesicle fusions are altered in Drosophila synaptotagmin mutants.  PNAS  91, 10888-10892.

Broadie, K., Bellen, H.J., DiAntonio, A., Littleton, J.T. & Schwarz, T.L. (1994) The absence of synaptotagmin disrupts excitation-secretion coupling during synaptic transmission.  PNAS  91, 10727-10731.

Schulze, K.*, Littleton, J.T.*, Salzberg, A., Cohen, N., Stern, M., Lev, Z. & Bellen, H.J.  (1994) ROP, a Drosophila homolog of yeast Sec1 and vertebrate n-Sec1/Munc-18 proteins, is a negative regulator of neurotransmitter release in vivo.  Neuron 13, 1099-1108.  *Equal Contribution.

Littleton, J.T., Bellen, H.J. & Perin, M. (1993) Expression of synaptotagmin in Drosophila reveals transport and localization of synaptic vesicles to the synapse.  Development 118, 1077-1088.

Littleton, J.T., Stern, M., Schulze, K., Perin, M. & Bellen, H.J. (1993) Mutational analysis of Drosophila synaptotagmin demonstrates its essential role in calcium-activated neurotransmitter release.  Cell  74, 1125-1134.

Gleeson, R.A., Trapido-Rosenthal, H.G., Littleton, J.T. & Carr, W.E.S. (1989) Purinergic receptors and dephosphorylating enzymes occur in both the gustatory and olfactory systems of the Spiny Lobster.  Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 92C, 413-417.