About

Inquiring About Research Opportunities

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Education

2010 – 2014 B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology

2014 – 2020 Ph.D, in Biology; Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2020 – present Postdoctoral fellow; Brandeis University

Research Interests

In neurons, the ER extends deep into dendrites, axons, and synapses, where it adopts diverse structures and forms specialized contacts with other organelles, like endosomes. Studies suggest the ER is involved in neurite outgrowth, neurotransmission, and synaptic plasticity; however, the cell biology of the neuronal ER remains under-investigated. These gaps are crucial because mutations in genes that shape the ER can lead to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP). The importance of understanding synaptic ER function is further highlighted by the fact that HSP disease progression originates at upper motor neuron synapses. Altered ER function is also linked to other neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, making my research relevant to a range of neurological conditions.

Using the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) as a model synapse, my lab will explore three aspects of ER biology in healthy and diseased neurons: the relationship between ER structure and function, ER structural dynamics, and local regulation of synaptic ER function. These research areas encompass fundamental questions that undergraduates can access experimentally, while maintaining high relevance to human neurodegenerative diseases. Through this work, students will grow as independent researchers by learning to dissect complex biological pathways using genetic approaches, including RNAi and CRISPR-based screens.

Publications

1. Quiñones-Frías, Mónica C., Dina M. Ocken*, and Avital Rodal. 2025. “Disruption of Synaptic Endoplasmic Reticulum Luminal Protein Containment in Drosophila Atlastin Mutants.” Preprint, bioRxiv, February 15. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.09.01.555994.
   *undergraduate researcher
2. Quiñones-Frías, Mónica C., and J. Troy Littleton. 2021. “Function of Drosophila Synaptotagmins in Membrane Trafficking at Synapses.” Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 78 (9): 4335–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-021-03788-9.
3. Guan, Zhuo, Monica C. Quiñones-Frías, Yulia Akbergenova, and J. Troy Littleton. 2020. “Drosophila Synaptotagmin 7 Negatively Regulates Synaptic Vesicle Release and Replenishment in a Dosage-Dependent Manner.” eLife 9 (April): e55443. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.55443.