Monastiriot
Neurosciences
FORTH Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
Greece
Biography
Maria Monastirioti Senior Staff Scientist
Research Interest
Our research focus is on understanding how the function of neuroactive molecules regulates behaviour and physiology of organisms. We center our research on the biogenic amine Octopamine, an insect neurotransmitter and neurohormone that combines many of the roles of noradrenaline and adrenaline in vertebrates. Through the molecular genetic analysis of gene s involved in Octopamine biosynthesis, we examine its requirement in different physiological processes of the fruitfly while we map the Octopamine-producing cell populations that are involved in the respective neuronal networks. Octopamine deficient flies exhibit multiple phenotypes related to defects in memory, stress reactivity, ovulation and others.
