During the inaugural talk of the last Latin-American Chronobiology Meeting, the current Nobel Prize in Medicine, Dr. Michael Rosbash, awarded by his work in circadian rhythm, quoted the research of Dr. Jorquera, faculty of the Neuroscience Department in our institution. The neuronal protein Complexin, key regulator for neuronal communication in all living systems, is critical for synaptic function. Decreased levels of Complexin expression or its dysfunction have been associated with several neuronal conditions, including Parkinson, Huntington and Schizophrenia. Now, Dr. Rosbash (pictures) indicates that in all animal systems, Complexin exerts an important role that regulates circadian rhythms in accordance with the neuronal function described by Dr. Jorquera. Alterations in this type of rhythm in humans lead to several behavioral defects, including sleep abnormalities and mood disorders. Dr. Jorquera stated: “It’s a great honor yet not unexpected. This work has been previously cited and esteemed a couple of times in the research of two other Nobel Prizes, Dr. Thomas C. Südhof and Dr. James E. Rothman, both laureated in 2013”. Dr. Jorquera’s work, along with two graduate students at our institution, is close to characterizing another pathology in which the absence of Complexin may be responsible for tremors in humans.
