Kari Hoyt, PhD
Professional Interests
Our research team members are engaged in pre-clinical target identification for pharmacologic treatment of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. We use in vivo and in vitro high-resolution fluorescence microscopy and high-content analysis of live neurons to reveal complex interactions between signaling pathways that regulate cell survival/function and circadian clock signaling. This work is designed to identify new avenues of chronotherapeutic target development for CNS disorders. Current work focuses on two related themes: (1) Alzheimer’s Disease and desynchronization of cortico-limbic circadian rhythms and (2) MAPK signaling: gates, oscillators and circadian timing.
Education
- PhD, Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Honors
- Dean's Innovative Research Award, 2019
Journal Articles
Alzate-Correa D, Aten S, Campbell MJ, Hoyt KR, Obrietan K. Light-induced changes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus transcriptome regulated by the ERK/MAPK pathway. PLoS One. 2021 Jun 30;16(6):e0249430. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249430. PMID: 34191798; PMCID: PMC8244859.
Aten S, Kalidindi A, Yoon H, Rumbaugh G, Hoyt KR, Obrietan K. SynGAP is expressed in the murine suprachiasmatic nucleus and regulates circadian-gated locomotor activity and light-entrainment capacity. Eur J Neurosci. 2021 Feb;53(3):732-749. doi: 10.1111/ejn.15043. Epub 2020 Nov 30. PMID: 33174316.
Aten S, Page CE, Kalidindi A, Wheaton K, Niraula A, Godbout JP, Hoyt KR, Obrietan K. miR-132/212 is induced by stress and its dysregulation triggers anxiety-related behavior. Neuropharmacology. 2019 Jan;144:256-270. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.10.020. Epub 2018 Oct 18. PMID: 30342060; PMCID: PMC6823933.
Aten S, Page CE, Kalidindi A, Wheaton KL, Niraula A, Godbout JP, Hoyt KR, Obrietan K. Data highlighting the expression of two miR-132/212 target genes- Sirt1 and Pten-after chronic stress. Data Brief. 2018 Nov 13;21:2323-2329. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2018.11.042. PMID: 30555870; PMCID: PMC6279806.
Wheaton KL, Hansen KF, Aten S, Sullivan KA, Yoon H, Hoyt KR, Obrietan K. The Phosphorylation of CREB at Serine 133 Is a Key Event for Circadian Clock Timing and Entrainment in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus. J Biol Rhythms. 2018 Oct;33(5):497-514. doi: 10.1177/0748730418791713. Epub 2018 Sep 3. PMID: 30175684; PMCID: PMC8293705.
Aten S, Hansen KF, Snider K, Wheaton K, Kalidindi A, Garcia A, Alzate-Correa D, Hoyt KR, Obrietan K. miR-132 couples the circadian clock to daily rhythms of neuronal plasticity and cognition. Learn Mem. 2018 Apr 16;25(5):214-229. doi: 10.1101/lm.047191.117. PMID: 29661834; PMCID: PMC5903403.
Wheaton K, Aten S, Queiroz LS, Sullivan K, Oberdick J, Hoyt KR, Obrietan K. Circadian expression and functional characterization of PEA-15 within the mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus. Eur J Neurosci. 2018 Apr;47(7):845-857. doi: 10.1111/ejn.13850. Epub 2018 Feb 19. PMID: 29383758; PMCID: PMC5880735.
Choi YS, Horning P, Aten S, Karelina K, Alzate-Correa D, Arthur JSC, Hoyt KR, Obrietan K. Mitogen- and Stress-Activated Protein Kinase 1 Regulates Status Epilepticus-Evoked Cell Death in the Hippocampus. ASN Neuro. 2017 Sep- Oct;9(5):1759091417726607. doi: 10.1177/1759091417726607. PMID: 28870089; PMCID: PMC5588809.
Choi YS, Lee B, Hansen KF, Aten S, Horning P, Wheaton KL, Impey S, Hoyt KR, Obrietan K. Status epilepticus stimulates NDEL1 expression via the CREB/CRE pathway in the adult mouse brain. Neuroscience. 2016 Sep 7;331:1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.06.010. Epub 2016 Jun 11. PMID: 27298008; PMCID: PMC5363720.
Snider KH, Dziema H, Aten S, Loeser J, Norona FE, Hoyt K, Obrietan K. Modulation of learning and memory by the targeted deletion of the circadian clock gene Bmal1 in forebrain circuits. Behav Brain Res. 2016 Jul 15;308:222-35. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.04.027. Epub 2016 May 4. PMID: 27091299; PMCID: PMC5344043.