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Patrick Emery PhD

TitleProfessor
InstitutionUMass Chan Medical School
DepartmentNeurobiology
AddressUMass Chan Medical School
364 Plantation Street LRB 703
Worcester MA 01605
Phone508-856-6599
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    Other Positions
    InstitutionT.H. Chan School of Medicine
    DepartmentNeurobiology

    InstitutionT.H. Chan School of Medicine
    DepartmentNeuroNexus Institute

    InstitutionMorningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
    DepartmentInterdisciplinary Graduate Program

    InstitutionMorningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
    DepartmentMD/PhD Program

    InstitutionMorningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
    DepartmentNeuroscience


    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    University of Geneva, Geneva, GE, SwitzerlandBSBiology
    University of Geneva, Geneva, GE, SwitzerlandMSBiology
    University of Geneva, Geneva, GE, SwitzerlandPHDBiology

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview


    Mailing Address:

    Patrick Emery, Ph.D

    University of Massachusetts Medical School



    Department of Neurobiology, LRB-726

    364 Plantation Street,

    Worcester, MA 01605 USA

    e-mail: patrick.emery@umassmed.edu



    Academic Background






























    Maturité scientifique. Collège Rousseau, Geneva

    1987

    Degree in Biology, University of Geneva

    1990

    Diploma in Molecular Biology,

    U of Geneva Medical School

    1991

    PhD, U of Geneva Medical School

    1996

    Postdoctoral Fellow, Brandeis University

    1997-2001

    Research Fellowships,

    Swiss National Science Foundation

    1997-2000




    Patrick's Photo



    Circadian Rhythms and their Synchronization in Drosophila



    Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model organism for understanding the genetic, molecular and neural bases of animal behaviors. Circadian rhythms are a prime example of behaviors whose molecular and neural foundations have been greatly increased by studies in Drosophila. A biological clock dictates that animals sleep and wake with a ca. 24-hour period, and this is true even when they are kept under constant conditions, without any information from the environment. Using genetic screens, many essential clock proteins (e.g. PER, TIM, figure 1) were identified in Drosophila. It has been shown that homologues of most of these proteins are also involved in generating mammalian circadian rhythms. Human homologues of Drosophila PER (hPER2) and DBT (hCK-Id) are actually mutated in patients with advanced sleep-phase syndrome. This demonstrates that the discoveries made in Drosophila are playing a crucial role in understanding human circadian behavior.



    The Drosophila circadian pacemaker is a transcriptional feedback loop (fig.1), in which PER and TIM negatively regulate their own transcription.  Kinases and phosphatases determine the pace of this feedback loop by controlling PER and TIM phosphorylation, and hence their stability and repressive activity. Recent studies, including work from our lab, show that at least in circadian pacemaker neurons (the small ventral lateral neurons, fig.2) translational control of the key pacemaker protein PER is also critical for 24-hour period behavioral rhythms.  Ataxin-2 - whose mammalian homolog is involved in various neurodegenerative diseases – promotes PER translation with the help of the translational factor TYF.  A major objective of our lab is thus to understand the mechanisms by which Ataxin-2, and more generally RNA binding proteins, control circadian rhythms.   



    The other major goal of our lab is to discover the mechanisms by which circadian rhythms are synchronized with the day/night cycle.  These mechanisms are critical, since the period of circadian rhythms only approximates 24 hours, and day length changes at most latitudes over the course of the year.  We are thus elucidating the cell-autonomous molecular mechanisms by which light and temperature inputs synchronize circadian molecular pacemakers.  Interestingly, it has recently become clear that communication between circadian neurons is also critical to properly synchronize circadian behavior.  Therefore, we also study the circadian neurons that detect light and temperature inputs, and determine how these neurons communicate with the rest of the circadian neural network. Our ultimate goal is to understand how different environmental inputs are integrated to optimize daily animal physiology and behavior.





    Figures





    Fig.1:  The circadian pacemaker is a transcriptional feedback loop.  It is synchronized with light by the intracellular photoreceptor CRY, which binds to TIM and triggers its proteasome degradation, mediated by JET. 



     





    Fig.2:  The small ventral Lateral Neurons (left) are critical pacemaker neurons driving circadian behavior.  Knocking down ATX2 in these cells lengthen circadian behavioral rhythms to ca. 26.5 hr instead of 24hr


    Collapse Rotation Projects

    Potential Rotation Projects

    Circadian clocks play an essential role in the temporal organization of animal physiology and behavior.Proper synchronization of these clocks with the day/night cycle is essential for their function. We combine the powerful genetics of Drosophila with molecular, cell culture and behavioral approaches to obtain a comprehensive view of the mechanisms regulating circadian rhythms and their synchronization.

    Rotation projects could for example focus on the mechanisms of signal transduction in the CRY light input pathway, on the molecular mechanisms underlying circadian temperature responses, or on characterizing the neural network controlling the synchronization of circadian behavior with light and temperature cycles.


    Collapse Post Docs


    A postdoc position is available to study circadian rhythms in Drosophila.  Contact Patrick Emery (patrick.emery@umassmed.edu).



    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Joshi R, Cai YD, Xia Y, Chiu JC, Emery P. PERIOD Phosphoclusters Control Temperature Compensation of the Drosophila Circadian Clock. Front Physiol. 2022; 13:888262. PMID: 35721569.
      Citations:    
    2. Chaturvedi R, Stork T, Yuan C, Freeman MR, Emery P. Astrocytic GABA transporter controls sleep by modulating GABAergic signaling in Drosophila circadian neurons. Curr Biol. 2022 05 09; 32(9):1895-1908.e5. PMID: 35303417.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    3. Fagan RR, Kearney PJ, Luethi D, Bolden NC, Sitte HH, Emery P, Melikian HE. Dopaminergic Ric GTPase activity impacts amphetamine sensitivity and sleep quality in a dopamine transporter-dependent manner in Drosophila melanogaster. Mol Psychiatry. 2021 12; 26(12):7793-7802. PMID: 34471250.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    4. Foley LE, Ling J, Joshi R, Evantal N, Kadener S, Emery P. Drosophila PSI controls circadian period and the phase of circadian behavior under temperature cycle via tim splicing. Elife. 2019 11 08; 8. PMID: 31702555.
      Citations: 11     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    5. Foley LE, Emery P. Drosophila Cryptochrome: Variations in Blue. J Biol Rhythms. 2020 02; 35(1):16-27. PMID: 31599203.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    6. Chatterjee A, Lamaze A, De J, Mena W, Ch?lot E, Martin B, Hardin P, Kadener S, Emery P, Rouyer F. Reconfiguration of a Multi-oscillator Network by Light in the Drosophila Circadian Clock. Curr Biol. 2018 07 09; 28(13):2007-2017.e4. PMID: 29910074.
      Citations: 36     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    7. Lamba P, Foley LE, Emery P. Neural Network Interactions Modulate CRY-Dependent Photoresponses in Drosophila. J Neurosci. 2018 07 04; 38(27):6161-6171. PMID: 29875268.
      Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    8. Fujii S, Emery P, Amrein H. SIK3-HDAC4 signaling regulates Drosophila circadian male sex drive rhythm via modulating the DN1 clock neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 08 08; 114(32):E6669-E6677. PMID: 28743754.
      Citations: 11     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    9. Zhang Y, Lamba P, Guo P, Emery P. miR-124 Regulates the Phase of Drosophila Circadian Locomotor Behavior. J Neurosci. 2016 Feb 10; 36(6):2007-13. PMID: 26865623.
      Citations: 18     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    10. Emery P. Connecting Circadian Genes to Neurodegenerative Pathways in Fruit Flies. PLoS Genet. 2015 Jun; 11(6):e1005266. PMID: 26068245.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Animals
    11. Tataroglu O, Emery P. The molecular ticks of the Drosophila circadian clock. Curr Opin Insect Sci. 2015 Feb 01; 7:51-57. PMID: 26120561.
      Citations: 49     Fields:    
    12. Lamba P, Bilodeau-Wentworth D, Emery P, Zhang Y. Morning and evening oscillators cooperate to reset circadian behavior in response to light input. Cell Rep. 2014 May 08; 7(3):601-8. PMID: 24746814.
      Citations: 19     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    13. Tataroglu O, Emery P. Studying circadian rhythms in Drosophila melanogaster. Methods. 2014 Jun 15; 68(1):140-50. PMID: 24412370.
      Citations: 35     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    14. Zhang Y, Ling J, Yuan C, Dubruille R, Emery P. A role for Drosophila ATX2 in activation of PER translation and circadian behavior. Science. 2013 May 17; 340(6134):879-82. PMID: 23687048.
      Citations: 71     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    15. Karpowicz P, Zhang Y, Hogenesch JB, Emery P, Perrimon N. The circadian clock gates the intestinal stem cell regenerative state. Cell Rep. 2013 Apr 25; 3(4):996-1004. PMID: 23583176.
      Citations: 64     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    16. Zhang Y, Emery P. GW182 controls Drosophila circadian behavior and PDF-receptor signaling. Neuron. 2013 Apr 10; 78(1):152-65. PMID: 23583112.
      Citations: 25     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    17. Ling J, Dubruille R, Emery P. KAYAK-a modulates circadian transcriptional feedback loops in Drosophila pacemaker neurons. J Neurosci. 2012 Nov 21; 32(47):16959-70. PMID: 23175847.
      Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    18. Emery P. Circadian rhythms: An electric jolt to the clock. Curr Biol. 2012 Oct 23; 22(20):R876-8. PMID: 23098596.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    19. Kaneko H, Head LM, Ling J, Tang X, Liu Y, Hardin PE, Emery P, Hamada FN. Circadian rhythm of temperature preference and its neural control in Drosophila. Curr Biol. 2012 Oct 09; 22(19):1851-7. PMID: 22981774.
      Citations: 46     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    20. Zhang Y, Liu Y, Bilodeau-Wentworth D, Hardin PE, Emery P. Light and temperature control the contribution of specific DN1 neurons to Drosophila circadian behavior. Curr Biol. 2010 Apr 13; 20(7):600-5. PMID: 20362449.
      Citations: 96     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    21. Dubruille R, Murad A, Rosbash M, Emery P. A constant light-genetic screen identifies KISMET as a regulator of circadian photoresponses. PLoS Genet. 2009 Dec; 5(12):e1000787. PMID: 20041201.
      Citations: 21     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    22. Emery P, Francis M. Circadian rhythms: timing the sense of smell. Curr Biol. 2008 Jul 08; 18(13):R569-71. PMID: 18606130.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    23. Zhu H, Sauman I, Yuan Q, Casselman A, Emery-Le M, Emery P, Reppert SM. Cryptochromes define a novel circadian clock mechanism in monarch butterflies that may underlie sun compass navigation. PLoS Biol. 2008 Jan; 6(1):e4. PMID: 18184036.
      Citations: 90     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    24. Busza A, Murad A, Emery P. Interactions between circadian neurons control temperature synchronization of Drosophila behavior. J Neurosci. 2007 Oct 03; 27(40):10722-33. PMID: 17913906.
      Citations: 44     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    25. Emery P, Freeman MR. Glia got rhythm. Neuron. 2007 Aug 02; 55(3):337-9. PMID: 17678846.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    26. Murad A, Emery-Le M, Emery P. A subset of dorsal neurons modulates circadian behavior and light responses in Drosophila. Neuron. 2007 Mar 01; 53(5):689-701. PMID: 17329209.
      Citations: 60     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    27. Emery P. RNA extraction from Drosophila heads. Methods Mol Biol. 2007; 362:305-7. PMID: 17417017.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    28. Emery P. Protein extraction from Drosophila heads. Methods Mol Biol. 2007; 362:375-7. PMID: 17417024.
      Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    29. Emery P. Mutagenesis with Drosophila. Methods Mol Biol. 2007; 362:187-95. PMID: 17417010.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    30. Emery P. RNase protection assay. Methods Mol Biol. 2007; 362:343-8. PMID: 17417021.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    31. Rush BL, Murad A, Emery P, Giebultowicz JM. Ectopic CRYPTOCHROME renders TIM light sensitive in the Drosophila ovary. J Biol Rhythms. 2006 Aug; 21(4):272-8. PMID: 16864647.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    32. Emery P, Reppert SM. A rhythmic Ror. Neuron. 2004 Aug 19; 43(4):443-6. PMID: 15312644.
      Citations: 48     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    33. Martin G, Puig S, Pietrzykowski A, Zadek P, Emery P, Treistman S. Somatic localization of a specific large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel subtype controls compartmentalized ethanol sensitivity in the nucleus accumbens. J Neurosci. 2004 Jul 21; 24(29):6563-72. PMID: 15269268.
      Citations: 49     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    34. Busza A, Emery-Le M, Rosbash M, Emery P. Roles of the two Drosophila CRYPTOCHROME structural domains in circadian photoreception. Science. 2004 Jun 04; 304(5676):1503-6. PMID: 15178801.
      Citations: 125     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    35. Zhao J, Kilman VL, Keegan KP, Peng Y, Emery P, Rosbash M, Allada R. Drosophila clock can generate ectopic circadian clocks. Cell. 2003 Jun 13; 113(6):755-66. PMID: 12809606.
      Citations: 63     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    36. McDonald MJ, Rosbash M, Emery P. Wild-type circadian rhythmicity is dependent on closely spaced E boxes in the Drosophila timeless promoter. Mol Cell Biol. 2001 Feb; 21(4):1207-17. PMID: 11158307.
      Citations: 38     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    37. Allada R, Emery P, Takahashi JS, Rosbash M. Stopping time: the genetics of fly and mouse circadian clocks. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2001; 24:1091-119. PMID: 11520929.
      Citations: 107     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    38. Emery P, Stanewsky R, Helfrich-F?rster C, Emery-Le M, Hall JC, Rosbash M. Drosophila CRY is a deep brain circadian photoreceptor. Neuron. 2000 May; 26(2):493-504. PMID: 10839367.
      Citations: 140     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    39. Emery P, Stanewsky R, Hall JC, Rosbash M. A unique circadian-rhythm photoreceptor. Nature. 2000 Mar 30; 404(6777):456-7. PMID: 10761904.
      Citations: 84     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    40. Emery P, So WV, Kaneko M, Hall JC, Rosbash M. CRY, a Drosophila clock and light-regulated cryptochrome, is a major contributor to circadian rhythm resetting and photosensitivity. Cell. 1998 Nov 25; 95(5):669-79. PMID: 9845369.
      Citations: 291     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    41. Stanewsky R, Kaneko M, Emery P, Beretta B, Wager-Smith K, Kay SA, Rosbash M, Hall JC. The cryb mutation identifies cryptochrome as a circadian photoreceptor in Drosophila. Cell. 1998 Nov 25; 95(5):681-92. PMID: 9845370.
      Citations: 301     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
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