Jocelyn Shaw, PhD

Research Techniques:

genetics, such as mutant screens and mapping mutations; DIC and fluorescence microscopy; cloning and sequencing; in situ hybridization; preparation of antibodies; laser ablation

Research Interests:

The Shaw laboratory aims to gain insight into processes involved in embryogenesis and in nervous system development. The lab is focussing their research on the model organism C. elegans, a simple and developmentally well-described animal, for which the wiring diagram of the nervous system is known.

Currently, the lab is studying the role that gap junctional communication plays in animal embryogenesis. Gap junctions allow direct intercellular communication through channels that permit small molecules, such as second messenger signals, ions and metabolites to pass between cells. Although gap junctions are present in all types of embryonic cells in animals, their function in embryonic development is not understood. The lab is investigating several gap junction genes, which are essential for normal development, to understand the processes for which they are required.

The investigation into nervous system development involves analyzing mutants whose nervous systems function abnormally. The Shaw lab has cloned several genes identified by these mutants and are in the process of analyzing the function of the proteins encoded by these genes. Interests include genes that are required for proper neuronal structure, proper axonal guidance, and proper neuronal connections. Of particular interest, at present, is a gap junction gene that is required for the proper specificity of electrical coupling between neurons. The lab is analyzing the roles that this gene plays in regulating neuronal connections.

The approaches used in the Shaw lab to analyze the function of gap junction genes in embryonic and neuronal development include genetics, microscopy, cell lineage analysis, laser killing of specific cells, molecular biology and immunocytochemistry.

Selected Publications:

Starich T.A., Xu J., Skerrit I.M., Nicholoson B.J., and Shaw J.E.  (2009) Interactions between innexins UNC-7 and UNC-9 mediate electrical synapse specificity in the Caenorhabditis elegans locomotory nervous system. Neural Development 4:16

Von Stetina, S.E., R.M. Fox, K.L. Watkins, T.A. Starich, J.E. Shaw and D.M. Miller III (2007) UNC-4 represses CEH-12/HB9 to specify synaptic inputs to VA motor neurons in C. elegans. Genes & Dev. 21:332-346.

Bell L.R., S. Stone, J.Yochem, J. E. Shaw, and R. K. Herman (2006) The molecular identities of the Caenorhabditis elegans intraflagellar transport genes dyf-6, daf-10, and osm-1. Genetics 173:1275-1286.

Spartz AK, RK Herman and JE Shaw (2004) SMU-2 and SMU-1, C. elegans homologs of mammalian spliceosome-associated proteins RED and fSAP57, work together to affect splice-site choice. Mol. Cell. Bio. 24: 6811-6823.

Starich, T.A., A. Miller, R.L. Nguyen, D.H. Hall and J.E. Shaw. (2003)The Caenorhabditis elegans innexin INX-3 is localized to gap junctions and is essential for embryonic development. Developmental Biology 256:403-417.

Spike, C.A., Davies, A.G., J.E. Shaw and R.K. Herman. (2002) MEC-8 regulates alternative splicing of unc-52 transcripts in C. elegans hypodermis. Development 129, 4999 - 5008.

Spike, C.A., J.E. Shaw and R.K. Herman (2001). Analysis of smu-1, a gene that regulates the alternative splicing of unc-52 pre-mRNA in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol. Cell. Biol.15, 4985 4995.

Landesmman, Y., T.W. White, T.A. Starich, J.E. Shaw, D.A. Goodenough and D.L. Paul (1999) The C. elegans innexin INX-3 forms functional intercellular channels. J. Cell Science 112, 2391-2396.

Davies, A.G., C.A. Spike, J.E. Shaw and R.K. Herman (1999) Functional overlap between the mec-8 gene and five sym genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 153, 117-134.

Collet, J., C.A. Spike, E.A. Lundquist, J.E. Shaw and R.K. Herman (1998) Analysis of osm-6, a gene that affects sensory cilium structure and sensory neuron function in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 148, 187-200.

Lundquist, E.A., R.K. Herman, J.E. Shaw and C.I. Bargmann (1998) UNC-115, a conserved protein with predicted LIM and actin-binding domains, mediates axon guidance in C. elegans. Neuron 21, 385-392.

Phelan, P., J.P. Bacon, J.A. Davies, L.A. Stebbins, M.G. Todman, L. Avery, R.A. Baines, T.M. Barnes, C. Ford, S. Hekimi, R. Lee, J.E. Shaw, T.A. Starich, K.D. Curtin , Y. Sun and R.J. Wyman (1998) Innexins: a family of invertebrate gap junction proteins. Trends in Genetics 14, 348-349.

Starich, T.A., R.Y.N. Lee, C. Panzarella, L. Avery, and J.E. Shaw (1996) eat-5 and unc-7 represent a multi-gene family in Caenorhabditis elegans involved in cell-cell coupling. J. Cell Biol. 134, 537-548.

To view these and other publications visit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed
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