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.
We concentrate on the egg retention deficit and we work towards identifying regulators of Octopamine biosynthesis and secretion as well as interacting intrinsic/extrinsic factors regulating female fecundity. In parallel, we study the Octopamine system in insects of agricultural/medical interest focusing on its essential role in the reproductive process and we explore the potential of the system in pest management.
A second focus of our studies is to investigate the role of Octopamine in metabolic processes and in stress response as well as its putative interactions with neuroendocrine pathways that modulate lifespan and reproduction.

Selected Publications

Monastirioti M, Giagtzoglou N, Koumbanakis K. A, Zacharioudaki E, Deligiannaki M, Wech I, Almeida M, Preiss A, Bray S, and Delidakis C . (2010) Drosophila Hey is a target of Notch in asymmetric divisions during embryonic and larval neurogenesis. Development 137: 191-201.

Gruntenko N.E, Chentsova N.A, Bogomolova E.V, Karpova E.K, Glazko G.V, Faddeeva N.V, Monastirioti M, and I.Yu Rauschenbach. (2004) The effect of mutations altering biogenic amine metabolism in Drosophila on viability and the response to heat stress. Arch. Insect Biochem.Physiol. 5: 555-67.

Monastirioti M. (2003) Distinct octopamine cell population residing in the CNS abdominal ganglion controls ovulation in Drosophila melanogaster. Developmental Biology 264 : 38-49. .

Schwaerzel M, Monastirioti M, Scholz H, Friggi-Grelin F, Birman S. and M. Heisenberg (2003) Dopamine and octopamine differentiate between aversive and appetitive olfactory memories in Drosophila. Journal of Neuroscience 23 : 10495-502.

Gruntenko N.E, Wilson T.G, Monastirioti M. and I. Yu. Rauschenbach (2000) Stress reactivity and juvenile hormone degradation in Drosophila melanogaster stress related mutations. Insect Biochem. & Mol.Biol. 30: 775-783.