Itzhak Mano, Ph.D.

Assistant Medical Professor
Physiology and Pharmacology

Education

B.Sc., Biology (Mol. Biol. & Genetics), 1987, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel;
M.Sc., Biology (Neurobiology), 1991, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel;
Ph.D. , Dept. of Neurobiology, 1996, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Information About Dr. Mano's Research Lab

Research Interests

I study the biology of Glutamate, the main chemical signal that mediates excitation in the brain, and the deleterious events that happen when the brain is flooded with too much Glutamate (as seen in a range of prevalent neuro-degenerative diseases such as stroke and ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease). We currently understand very little about this form of neuronal cell death, and neurologists do not have effective therapies to treat it. I use a model of neuro-degeneration in the microscopic nematode C. elegans because of the strong genetic research tools available in this system. The basic premise is that although we look very different from nematodes, we share a great similarity at the cellular and molecular levels. Therefore, if we understand the process of neuronal cell death in nematodes, it might give us clues as to possible similar processes in people. In this system, I use genetic tools to study how excess Glutamate is removed from the nervous system, and what are the molecular steps of the neurotoxic process induced by Glutamate over-stimulation.

Publications

1. Mano, I., and Driscoll, M., (2008) C. elegans Glutamate Transporter Deletion Induces AMPA-Receptor/Adenylyl Cyclase 9-Dependent Excitotoxicity In Press, J. Neurochem. Click here for details
2. Mano, I., Straud, S., and Driscoll, M. (2007). C. elegans glutamate transporters influence synaptic function and behavior at sites distant from the synapse. J Biol Chem 282: 34412-34419. Click here for details
3. Hong, K. Mano, I. and Driscoll, M. (2000). In-vivo structure/function analysis of C. elegans candidate mechanotransducing ion channel subunit MEC-4. J. Neurosci. 20: 2575-2588. Click here for details
4. Mano, I. and Driscoll, M. (1999). The DEG/ENaC Channels: A touchy superfamily that watches its salt.  BioEssays 21 (7): 568-578. Click here for details
5. Thieringer, H., Sahota, S., Mano, I. and Driscoll, M. (1999). C. elegans degenerin channels: form and function. Curr. Top. Membr. 47: 297-314 .
6. Mano, I. and Teichberg, V.I., (1998). A tetrameric subunit stoichiometry for a glutamate receptor/channel complex. NeuroReport 9: 327-331 . Click here for details
7. Mano, I., Lamed, Y. and Teichberg, V.I., (1996). A Venus flytrap mechanism for activation and desensitization of AMPA receptors. J. Biol. Chem. 271: 15299-15302. Click here for details Mano, .I., Paperna, T., Devillers-Thiery, A., Galzi, J.-L., Changeux, J.-P., and Teichberg, V.I. (1993). A study of non-NMDA receptors in chick cerebellum. J. Neurochem. 61: S13D.
8. Gregor, P., Yang, X., Mano, I., Takemura, M., Teichberg, V. I. and Uhl, G. R. (1992). Organization and expression of the gene encoding chick kainate binding protein, a member of the glutamate receptor family. Mol. Brain Res. 16, 179-186.
9. Teichberg, V.I., Lamed Y., Maoz I., Mano I., Ortega A., Paas Y., and Paperna T. (1992).Structure and regulation of the Bergmann glia kainate receptor. in Excitatory amino acids. Fidia Res. Found. Symp. Series. Thieme Medical Publishers, 9:35-40 .
10. Teichberg, V.I., Eshhar, N., Maoz, I., Mano, I., Ornstein, D., Ortega, A., Gregor, P. (1990). Molecular characterization, ultrastructural localization and gene cloning of the chick cerebellar kainate receptor. Adv Exp Med Biol 268:73-78 .
11. Gregor, P., Mano, I., Maoz, I., McKeown, M. and Teichberg, V. I. (1989). Molecular structure of the chick cerebellar kainate-binding subunit of a putative glutamate receptor. Nature 342, 689-692 . Click here for details

Last Updated: 3/9/12