Joana Ferreira

Joana Ferreira, graduated in Biology in 2006 (University of Coimbra) and completed her PhD in Biosciences, specialty Neurosciences (University of Coimbra) in 2012, under the co-supervision of Ana Luísa Carvalho at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (University of Coimbra, Portugal) and Ann Marie Craig at the Center for Brain Health (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada). After completing her PhD, she stayed at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC) as a postdoctoral fellow to complete her studies on the molecular mechanisms of traffic of glutamate receptors. In 2016 she joined the group of Laurent Groc, at the Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (CNRS, University of Bordeaux, France), to explore the regulation of the nanoscale distribution of NMDA receptors (NMDARs). In 2021 she has joined the CNC-UC as an Assistant Investigator to start her independent line of research on the nanoscale architecture of the synapse and transsynaptic signaling.

EDUCATION

2012 PhD in Biosciences, specialization in Neurosciences, University of Coimbra (Portugal)
2006 Bachelor's in Biology, University of Coimbra (Portugal)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Neuroscience, Glutamate Receptors, Super-resolution Microscopy, Transsynaptic signalling, Molecular Neuroscience

FUTURE PROJECTS

Scopus Publications

Neurexins, Ephrin receptors, and N-cadherin signaling as emerging mechanisms in synaptic dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases
João Gonçalves-Martins, Carlos Cação, Joana S. Ferreira
Communications Biology, 2026
Neuronal ARHGAP8 controls synapse structure and AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission
Jeannette Schmidt, Ângela S. Inácio, Joana Ferreira, Débora Serrenho, Renato Socodato, et al.
Communications Biology, 2026
Protocol for performing 3D-STORM-based nanoscale organization of NMDA receptors in hippocampal brain tissue
Joana S. Ferreira, Jeanne Linarès-Loyez, Pierre Bon, Laurent Cognet, Laurent Groc
STAR Protocols, 2025
Surface Glutamate Receptor Nanoscale Organization with Super-Resolution Microscopy (dSTORM)
Joana Ferreira, Laurent Groc
Neuromethods, 2024
GluN3A subunit tunes NMDA receptor synaptic trafficking and content during postnatal brain development
Inmaculada M. González-González, John A. Gray, Joana Ferreira, María Jose Conde-Dusman, Delphine Bouchet, et al.
Cell Reports, 2023
Near-Infrared Carbon Nanotube Tracking Reveals the Nanoscale Extracellular Space around Synapses
Chiara Paviolo, Joana S. Ferreira, Antony Lee, Daniel Hunter, Ivo Calaresu, et al.
Nano Letters, 2022
We provide evidence of a local synaptic nano-environment in the brain extracellular space (ECS) lying within 500 nm of postsynaptic densities. To reveal this brain compartment, we developed a correlative imaging approach dedicated to thick brain tissue based on single-particle tracking of individual fluorescent single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in living samples and on speckle-based HiLo microscopy of synaptic labels. We show that the extracellular space around synapses bears specific properties in terms of morphology at the nanoscale and inner diffusivity. We finally show that the ECS juxta-synaptic region changes its diffusion parameters in response to neuronal activity, indicating that this nano-environment might play a role in the regulation of brain activity.
Interplay between NMDA receptor dynamics and the synaptic proteasome
Joana S. Ferreira, Blanka Kellermayer, Ana Luísa Carvalho, Laurent Groc
European Journal of Neuroscience, 2021
Proteasome activity at the excitatory synapse plays an important role in neuronal communication. The proteasome translocation to synapses is mediated by neuronal activity, in particular the activation of N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors (NMDARs). These receptors are composed of different subunits with distinct trafficking properties that provide various signalling and plasticity features to the synapse. Yet whether the interplay between the proteasome and NMDAR relies on specific subunit properties remain unclear. Using a combination of single molecule and immunocytochemistry imaging approaches in rat hippocampal neurons, we unveil a specific interplay between GluN2B‐containing NMDARs (GluN2B‐NMDARs) and the synaptic proteasome. Sustained proteasome activation specifically increases GluN2B‐NMDAR (not GluN2A‐NMDAR) lateral diffusion. In addition, when GluN2B‐NMDAR expression is downregulated, the proteasome localization decreases at glutamatergic synapses. Collectively, our data fuel a model in which the cellular dynamics and location of GluN2B‐NMDARs and proteasome are intermingled, shedding new lights on the NMDAR‐dependent regulation of synaptic adaptation.
A Bottom-Up Approach to Red-Emitting Molecular-Based Nanoparticles with Natural Stealth Properties and their Use for Single-Particle Tracking Deep in Brain Tissue
Morgane Rosendale, Jessica Flores, Chiara Paviolo, Paolo Pagano, Jonathan Daniel, et al.
Advanced Materials, 2021
Fluorescent nanoparticles dedicated to bioimaging applications should possess specific properties that have to be maintained in the aqueous, reactive, and crowded biological environment. These include chemical and photostability, small size (on the scale of subcellular structures), biocompatibility, high brightness, and good solubility. The latter is a major challenge for inorganic nanoparticles, which require surface coating to be made water soluble. Molecular‐based fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) may prove a promising, spontaneously water‐soluble alternative, whose bottom‐up design allows for the fine‐tuning of individual properties. Here, the critical challenge of controlling the interaction of nanoparticles with cellular membranes is addressed. This is a report on bright, size‐tunable, red‐emitting, naturally stealthy FONs that do not require the use of antifouling agents to impede interactions with cellular membranes. As a proof of concept, single FONs diffusing up to 150 µm deep in brain tissue are imaged and tracked.
CaMKII activation persistently segregates postsynaptic proteins via liquid phase separation
Tomohisa Hosokawa, Pin-Wu Liu, Qixu Cai, Joana S. Ferreira, Florian Levet, et al.
Nature Neuroscience, 2021
Fluorescent sp3 Defect-Tailored Carbon Nanotubes Enable NIR-II Single Particle Imaging in Live Brain Slices at Ultra-Low Excitation Doses
Amit Kumar Mandal, Xiaojian Wu, Joana S. Ferreira, Mijin Kim, Lyndsey R. Powell, et al.
Scientific Reports, 2020
Cellular and tissue imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, ~1000–1350 nm) is advantageous for in vivo studies because of low light extinction by biological constituents at these wavelengths. However, deep tissue imaging at the single molecule sensitivity has not been achieved in the NIR-II window due to lack of suitable bio-probes. Single-walled carbon nanotubes have emerged as promising near-infrared luminescent molecular bio-probes; yet, their inefficient photoluminescence (quantum yield ~1%) drives requirements for sizeable excitation doses (~1–10 kW/cm2) that are significantly blue-shifted from the NIR-II region (<850 nm) and may thus ultimately compromise live tissue. Here, we show that single nanotube imaging can be achieved in live brain tissue using ultralow excitation doses (~0.1 kW/cm2), an order of magnitude lower than those currently used. To accomplish this, we synthesized fluorescent sp3-defect tailored (6,5) carbon nanotubes which, when excited at their first order excitonic transition (~985 nm) fluoresce brightly at ~1160 nm. The biocompatibility of these functionalized nanotubes, which are wrapped by encapsulation agent (phospholipid-polyethylene glycol), is demonstrated using standard cytotoxicity assays. Single molecule photophysical studies of these biocompatible nanotubes allowed us to identify the optimal luminescence properties in the context of biological imaging.
Distance-dependent regulation of NMDAR nanoscale organization along hippocampal neuron dendrites
Joana S. Ferreira, Julien P. Dupuis, Blanka Kellermayer, Nathan Bénac, Constance Manso, et al.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2020
Nanoscale exploration of the extracellular space in the live brain by combining single carbon nanotube tracking and super-resolution imaging analysis
Chiara Paviolo, Federico N. Soria, Joana S. Ferreira, Antony Lee, Laurent Groc, et al.
Methods, 2020
Correlative imaging of single carbon nanotubes and fluorescently labelled neuronal structures in the extracellular space of live brains
Chiara Paviolo, Joana S. Ferreira, Antony Lee, Laurent Groc, Laurent Cognet
Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering, 2020
Self-interference (SELFI) microscopy for live super-resolution imaging and single particle tracking in 3D
Jeanne Linarès-Loyez, Joana S. Ferreira, Olivier Rossier, Brahim Lounis, Gregory Giannone, et al.
Frontiers in Physics, 2019
Differential Nanoscale Topography and Functional Role of GluN2-NMDA Receptor Subtypes at Glutamatergic Synapses
Blanka Kellermayer, Joana S. Ferreira, Julien Dupuis, Florian Levet, Dolors Grillo-Bosch, et al.
Neuron, 2018
Co-agonists differentially tune GluN2B-NMDA receptor trafficking at hippocampal synapses
Joana S Ferreira, Thomas Papouin, Laurent Ladépêche, Andrea Yao, Valentin C Langlais, et al.
Elife, 2017
Single nanoparticle tracking of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in cultured and intact brain tissue
Juan A. Varela, Joana S. Ferreira, Julien P. Dupuis, Pauline Durand, Delphine Bouchet, et al.
Neurophotonics, 2016
Multiple domains in the C-terminus of NMDA receptor GluN2B subunit contribute to neuronal death following in vitro ischemia
Marta M. Vieira, Jeannette Schmidt, Joana S. Ferreira, Kevin She, Shinichiro Oku, et al.
Neurobiology of Disease, 2016
GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors regulate AMPA receptor traffic through anchoring of the synaptic proteasome
Joana S. Ferreira, Jeannette Schmidt, Pedro Rio, Rodolfo Águas, Amanda Rooyakkers, et al.
Journal of Neuroscience, 2015
Glutamate binding to the GluN2B subunit controls surface trafficking of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors
Kevin She, Joana S. Ferreira, Ana Luisa Carvalho, Ann Marie Craig
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2012
Contactin-associated protein 1 (Caspr1) regulates the traffic and synaptic content of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors
Sandra D. Santos, Olga Iuliano, Luís Ribeiro, Julien Veran, Joana S. Ferreira, et al.
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2012
Activity and protein kinase C regulate synaptic accumulation of N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors independently of GluN1 splice variant
Joana S. Ferreira, Amanda Rooyakkers, Kevin She, Luis Ribeiro, Ana Luísa Carvalho, et al.
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2011
Characterization of alternatively spliced isoforms of AMPA receptor subunits encoding truncated receptors
André R. Gomes, Joana S. Ferreira, Ana V. Paternain, Juan Lerma, Carlos B. Duarte, et al.
Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 2008

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Neurexins, Ephrin receptors, and N-cadherin signaling as emerging mechanisms in synaptic dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases
J Gonçalves-Martins, C Cação, JS Ferreira
Communications Biology , 2026
2026
Neuronal ARHGAP8 controls synapse structure and AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission
J Schmidt, ÂS Inácio, J Ferreira, D Serrenho, R Socodato, N Beltrão, ...
Communications Biology , 2026
2026
Citations: 2
Protocol for performing 3D-STORM-based nanoscale organization of NMDA receptors in hippocampal brain tissue
JS Ferreira, J Linarès-Loyez, P Bon, L Cognet, L Groc
STAR protocols 6 (1) , 2025
2025
Type I TARPs regulate Kv7. 2 potassium channels and susceptibility to seizures
MV Rodrigues, ÂS Inácio, MV Soldovieri, S Ribau, TM Leal, T Baurberg, ...
bioRxiv, 2024.08. 09.607194 , 2024
2024
Surface glutamate receptor nanoscale organization with super-resolution microscopy (dstorm)
J Ferreira, L Groc
New Technologies for Glutamate Interaction: Neurons and Glia, 35-52 , 2024
2024
Citations: 2
GluN3A subunit tunes NMDA receptor synaptic trafficking and content during postnatal brain development
IM Gonzalez-Gonzalez, JA Gray, J Ferreira, MJ Conde-Dusman, ...
Cell reports 42 (5) , 2023
2023
Citations: 17
Near-infrared carbon nanotube tracking reveals the nanoscale extracellular space around synapses
C Paviolo, JS Ferreira, A Lee, D Hunter, I Calaresu, S Nandi, L Groc, ...
Nano Letters 22 (17), 6849-6856 , 2022
2022
Citations: 40
Interplay between NMDA receptor dynamics and the synaptic proteasome
JS Ferreira, B Kellermayer, AL Carvalho, L Groc
European Journal of Neuroscience 54 (6), 6000-6011 , 2021
2021
Citations: 18
CaMKII activation persistently segregates postsynaptic proteins via liquid phase separation
T Hosokawa, PW Liu, Q Cai, JS Ferreira, F Levet, C Butler, JB Sibarita, ...
Nature Neuroscience 24 (6), 777-785 , 2021
2021
Citations: 154
A Bottom‐Up Approach to Red‐Emitting Molecular‐Based Nanoparticles with Natural Stealth Properties and their Use for Single‐Particle Tracking Deep in Brain Tissue
M Rosendale, J Flores, C Paviolo, P Pagano, J Daniel, J Ferreira, ...
Advanced Materials 33 (22), 2006644 , 2021
2021
Citations: 25
What Can We Learn from Carbon Nanotube Diffusion Trajectories Recorded in the Live Brain?
A Lee, N Danne, C Paviolo, F Soria, J Ferreira, E Bezard, L Groc, ...
Electrochemical Society Meeting Abstracts 239, 527-527 , 2021
2021
CaMKII activation triggers persistent formation and segregation of postsynaptic liquid phase
T Hosokawa, PW Liu, Q Cai, JS Ferreira, F Levet, C Butler, JB Sibarita, ...
bioRxiv, 2020.11. 25.397091 , 2020
2020
Citations: 1
Distance-dependent regulation of NMDAR nanoscale organization along hippocampal neuron dendrites
JS Ferreira, JP Dupuis, B Kellermayer, N Bénac, C Manso, D Bouchet, ...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117 (39), 24526-24533 , 2020
2020
Citations: 37
Correlative imaging of single carbon nanotubes and fluorescently labelled neuronal structures in the extracellular space of live brains
C Paviolo, JS Ferreira, A Lee, L Groc, L Cognet
Neurophotonics 11360, 49-56 , 2020
2020
Fluorescent sp 3 Defect-Tailored Carbon Nanotubes Enable NIR-II Single Particle Imaging in Live Brain Slices at Ultra-Low Excitation Doses
AK Mandal, X Wu, JS Ferreira, M Kim, LR Powell, H Kwon, L Groc, ...
Scientific Reports 10 (1), 5286 , 2020
2020
Citations: 97
Nanoscale exploration of the extracellular space in the live brain by combining single carbon nanotube tracking and super-resolution imaging analysis
C Paviolo, FN Soria, JS Ferreira, A Lee, L Groc, E Bezard, L Cognet
Methods 174, 91-99 , 2020
2020
Citations: 77
Self-interference (SELFI) microscopy for live super-resolution imaging and single particle tracking in 3D
J Linarès-Loyez, JS Ferreira, O Rossier, B Lounis, G Giannone, L Groc, ...
Frontiers in Physics 7, 68 , 2019
2019
Citations: 27
Differential nanoscale topography and functional role of GluN2-NMDA receptor subtypes at glutamatergic synapses
B Kellermayer, JS Ferreira, J Dupuis, F Levet, D Grillo-Bosch, L Bard, ...
Neuron 100 (1), 106-119. e7 , 2018
2018
Citations: 151
Co-agonists differentially tune GluN2B-NMDA receptor trafficking at hippocampal synapses
JS Ferreira, T Papouin, L Ladépêche, A Yao, VC Langlais, D Bouchet, ...
Elife 6, e25492 , 2017
2017
Citations: 126
Single nanoparticle tracking of -methyl- d -aspartate receptors in cultured and intact brain tissue
JA Varela, JS Ferreira, JP Dupuis, P Durand, D Bouchet, L Groc
Neurophotonics 3 (4), 041808-041808 , 2016
2016
Citations: 26

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

CaMKII activation persistently segregates postsynaptic proteins via liquid phase separation
T Hosokawa, PW Liu, Q Cai, JS Ferreira, F Levet, C Butler, JB Sibarita, ...
Nature Neuroscience 24 (6), 777-785 , 2021
2021
Citations: 154
Differential nanoscale topography and functional role of GluN2-NMDA receptor subtypes at glutamatergic synapses
B Kellermayer, JS Ferreira, J Dupuis, F Levet, D Grillo-Bosch, L Bard, ...
Neuron 100 (1), 106-119. e7 , 2018
2018
Citations: 151
Co-agonists differentially tune GluN2B-NMDA receptor trafficking at hippocampal synapses
JS Ferreira, T Papouin, L Ladépêche, A Yao, VC Langlais, D Bouchet, ...
Elife 6, e25492 , 2017
2017
Citations: 126
Fluorescent sp 3 Defect-Tailored Carbon Nanotubes Enable NIR-II Single Particle Imaging in Live Brain Slices at Ultra-Low Excitation Doses
AK Mandal, X Wu, JS Ferreira, M Kim, LR Powell, H Kwon, L Groc, ...
Scientific Reports 10 (1), 5286 , 2020
2020
Citations: 97
Nanoscale exploration of the extracellular space in the live brain by combining single carbon nanotube tracking and super-resolution imaging analysis
C Paviolo, FN Soria, JS Ferreira, A Lee, L Groc, E Bezard, L Cognet
Methods 174, 91-99 , 2020
2020
Citations: 77
GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors regulate AMPA receptor traffic through anchoring of the synaptic proteasome
JS Ferreira, J Schmidt, P Rio, R Águas, A Rooyakkers, KW Li, AB Smit, ...
Journal of Neuroscience 35 (22), 8462-8479 , 2015
2015
Citations: 77
Multiple domains in the C-terminus of NMDA receptor GluN2B subunit contribute to neuronal death following in vitro ischemia
MM Vieira, J Schmidt, JS Ferreira, K She, S Oku, M Mele, AE Santos, ...
Neurobiology of disease 89, 223-234 , 2016
2016
Citations: 56
Glutamate binding to the GluN2B subunit controls surface trafficking of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors
K She, JS Ferreira, AL Carvalho, AM Craig
Journal of Biological Chemistry 287 (33), 27432-27445 , 2012
2012
Citations: 54
Contactin-associated protein 1 (Caspr1) regulates the traffic and synaptic content of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors
SD Santos, O Iuliano, L Ribeiro, J Veran, JS Ferreira, P Rio, C Mulle, ...
Journal of Biological Chemistry 287 (9), 6868-6877 , 2012
2012
Citations: 47
Near-infrared carbon nanotube tracking reveals the nanoscale extracellular space around synapses
C Paviolo, JS Ferreira, A Lee, D Hunter, I Calaresu, S Nandi, L Groc, ...
Nano Letters 22 (17), 6849-6856 , 2022
2022
Citations: 40
Distance-dependent regulation of NMDAR nanoscale organization along hippocampal neuron dendrites
JS Ferreira, JP Dupuis, B Kellermayer, N Bénac, C Manso, D Bouchet, ...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117 (39), 24526-24533 , 2020
2020
Citations: 37
Self-interference (SELFI) microscopy for live super-resolution imaging and single particle tracking in 3D
J Linarès-Loyez, JS Ferreira, O Rossier, B Lounis, G Giannone, L Groc, ...
Frontiers in Physics 7, 68 , 2019
2019
Citations: 27
Single nanoparticle tracking of -methyl- d -aspartate receptors in cultured and intact brain tissue
JA Varela, JS Ferreira, JP Dupuis, P Durand, D Bouchet, L Groc
Neurophotonics 3 (4), 041808-041808 , 2016
2016
Citations: 26
A Bottom‐Up Approach to Red‐Emitting Molecular‐Based Nanoparticles with Natural Stealth Properties and their Use for Single‐Particle Tracking Deep in Brain Tissue
M Rosendale, J Flores, C Paviolo, P Pagano, J Daniel, J Ferreira, ...
Advanced Materials 33 (22), 2006644 , 2021
2021
Citations: 25
Interplay between NMDA receptor dynamics and the synaptic proteasome
JS Ferreira, B Kellermayer, AL Carvalho, L Groc
European Journal of Neuroscience 54 (6), 6000-6011 , 2021
2021
Citations: 18
Activity and protein kinase C regulate synaptic accumulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors independently of GluN1 splice variant
JS Ferreira, A Rooyakkers, K She, L Ribeiro, AL Carvalho, AM Craig
Journal of Biological Chemistry 286 (32), 28331-28342 , 2011
2011
Citations: 18
Characterization of alternatively spliced isoforms of AMPA receptor subunits encoding truncated receptors
AR Gomes, JS Ferreira, AV Paternain, J Lerma, CB Duarte, AL Carvalho
Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 37 (2), 323-334 , 2008
2008
Citations: 18
GluN3A subunit tunes NMDA receptor synaptic trafficking and content during postnatal brain development
IM Gonzalez-Gonzalez, JA Gray, J Ferreira, MJ Conde-Dusman, ...
Cell reports 42 (5) , 2023
2023
Citations: 17
Neuronal ARHGAP8 controls synapse structure and AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission
J Schmidt, ÂS Inácio, J Ferreira, D Serrenho, R Socodato, N Beltrão, ...
Communications Biology , 2026
2026
Citations: 2
Surface glutamate receptor nanoscale organization with super-resolution microscopy (dstorm)
J Ferreira, L Groc
New Technologies for Glutamate Interaction: Neurons and Glia, 35-52 , 2024
2024
Citations: 2