Studying human neuropsychiatric disease in stem cell derived human interneurons

Excitation and Inhibition (E/I) balance has been reported to be a crucial factor for normal brain function and to be altered in schizophrenic brains. DLG2 has been found to be associated with development of schizophrenia. In this context, we will explore the roles of DLG2 in cortical interneurons development, migration, and maturation. Currently DLG2 knockout hESCs have been generated using CRISPR/Cas9 technique and cortical interneuron differentiation protocol has been fine tuned in the lab. With these resources, we will try to find phenotypes in DLG2 KO cortical interneurons and underlying mechanisms. The study will employ variety of techniques depending on needs, such as stem cell culture, neuronal differentiation, genetic engineering using CRISPR/Cas9, migration assay, immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry, western blot, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, calcium imaging, single cell patch clamping, microelectrode array, fluorescent in situ hybridisation, and RNA sequencing. We also have DLG2 knockout mouse and will use this model as well if needed in the study.