Anton Maximov, PhD
Chair
Department of Neuroscience
Hahn Professor of Neuroscience; Director, Dorris Neuroscience Center
Research Focus
Our unique memories make us who we are. Representations of the external world are stored in the brain by billions of neurons with diverse morphologies, molecular compositions and physiological roles. Each of these neurons forms up to several thousand synaptic contacts that transmit signals with remarkable speed and precision.
The Maximov laboratory seeks to uncover the mechanisms that regulate neuronal connectivity at molecular, cellular and circuit levels. We primarily focus on the hippocampus, a laminated structure within the limbic system of the brain that is critical for memory, emotions and navigation. We study the architecture and function of hippocampal circuits by using a variety of genetic, biophysical and behavioral techniques. We are particularly interested in understanding how synaptic networks of specific excitatory and inhibitory neuron subtypes are reorganized during learning, and how these experience-dependent events contribute to memory coding. We heavily rely on optical imaging, serial electron microscopy and computational tools to define the role of experience in wiring of the hippocampal pathway at scales ranging from global to subcellular. In parallel, we elucidate the molecular bases of network plasticity and information storage by combining human genetics data, unbiased screens, and analysis of candidate genes in mouse models. As a part of this research program, we also design new tools to manipulate genetically-defined and behaviorally-relevant neural ensembles with small molecules.
Select Publications
-
Uytiepo, Marco; Zhu, Yongchuan; Bushong, Eric; Chou, Katherine; Polli, Filip Souz S.; Zhao, Elise; Kim, Keun-Youn Y.; Luu, Danielle; Chang, Lyanne; Yang, Dong; Ma, Tsz Chin C.; Kim, Mingi; Zhang, Yuting; Walton, Grant; Quach, Tom; Haberl, Matthias; Patapoutian, Luca; Shahbazi, Arya; Zhang, Yuxuan; Beutter, Elizabeth; Zhang, Weiheng; Dong, Brian; Khoury, Aureliano; Gu, Alton; McCue, Elle; Stowers, Lisa; Ellisman, Mark; Maximov, Anton Synaptic architecture of a memory engram in the mouse hippocampus. Science 2025, 387, eado8316.
-
Huang, Min; Pieraut, Simon; Cao, Jasmine; de Souza Polli, Filip; Roncace, Vincenzo; Shen, Gloria; Ramos-Medina, Carlos; Lee, HeeYang; Maximov, Anton Nr4a1 regulates cell-specific transcriptional programs in inhibitory GABAergic interneurons. Neuron 2024, 112, 2031-2044.e7.
-
Yang, Dong; Wang, Yu; Qi, Tianbo; Zhang, Xi; Shen, Leyao; Ma, Jingrui; Pang, Zhengyuan; Lal, Neeraj K.; McClatchy, Daniel B.; Seradj, Saba Heydar H.; Leung, Verina H.; Wang, Kristina; Xie, Yi; Polli, Filip S.; Maximov, Anton; Gonzalez, Oscar Christia C.; de Lecea, Luis; Cline, Hollis T.; Augustine, Vineet; Yates, John R.; Ye, Li Phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase inversely associates with neuronal activity. Neuron 2024, 112, 959-971.e8.
-
Zhu, Yongchuan; Uytiepo, Marco; Bushong, Eric; Haberl, Matthias; Beutter, Elizabeth; Scheiwe, Frederieke; Zhang, Weiheng; Chang, Lyanne; Luu, Danielle; Chui, Brandon; Ellisman, Mark; Maximov, Anton Nanoscale 3D EM reconstructions reveal intrinsic mechanisms of structural diversity of chemical synapses. 2021, 35, 108953.
-
Zhu, Y.; Huang, M.; Bushong, E.; Phan, S.; Uytiepo, M.; Beutter, E.; Boemer, D.; Tsui, K.; Ellisman, M.; Maximov, Anton V. Class IIa HDACs regulate learning and memory through dynamic experience-dependent repression of transcription. Nature Communications 2019, 10.
View -
Sando, Richard C.; Bushong, E.; Zhu, Y.; Huang, Min; Considine, C.; Phan, S.; Ju, S.; Uytiepo, M.; Ellisman, M.; Maximov, Anton V. Assembly of excitatory synapses in the absence of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Neuron 2017, 94, 312-321.
View
