(2015) The 5’untranslated region of a novel infectious molecular clone of the dicistrovirus Cricket paralysis virus modulates infection. Kerr C, Wang Q, Keatings K, Khong A, Allan DW, Yip C, Foster L, and Jan E. We also share a dedicated, fully-equipped Drosophila Facility with other fly labs in the building.Īllan DW and Thor S (2015) Transcriptional Selectors, Masters and Combinatorial Codes: Regulatory Principles of Neural Subtype Specification. Shernaz Bamji, we run The Facility for Synaptic Imaging which consists of upright and inverted Olympus FV1000 laser scanning confocal microscopes. Our laboratory is situated in the Life Sciences Institute on the UBC Main Campus. Our studies will provide a mechanistic understanding of how these factors control gene expression pertinent to neuronal function, advancing our understanding of the aetiology of neurological disorders. Therefore, we can learn much about the fundamental principles and molecular mechanisms relevant to vertebrate neuronal differentiation using the simpler nervous system and genetic amenability of Drosophila.Disruption of transcription factors has been linked to congenital neurological disorders, and disruption of intercellular communication and trafficking of target-derived signals has been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders. The genes and mechanisms that govern cell specification are highly conserved from invertebrates to humans. Our studies in Drosophila have demonstrated that these two inputs may actually functionally intersect to determine the mature gene expression repertoire of neurons.Our research aims to investigate the mechanisms by which neurons selectively express the genes that define their unique identities and functions, exploring the roles of combinations of transcription factors and extrinsic signals.
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Dr. allan spreen of the health sciences institute code#
Two regulatory inputs have been shown to play a role in regulating the expression of such ‘terminal differentiation’ genes 1) the unique code of transcription factors expressed within the neuron, and 2) factors/signals that are secreted from the target cell that the neuron innervates.
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guidance molecules, ion channels, receptors, neurotransmitter biosynthetic enzymes, neuropeptides etc).These genes are turned on after the neuron is born, but how neurons turn on the right set of genes is still poorly understood. The identity and function of a particular neuronal subtype is a product of the unique repertoire of ‘terminal differentiation’ genes that it expresses (eg. Neuronal specification during nervous system development and maturation in DrosophilaĬomplex nervous system function depends upon the generation of many different subtypes of neurons and the lifelong modulation of their function by intercellular communication. MSc : Aberdeen University, Scotland (1992-93)īSc (Hon) : Aberdeen University (1988-1992) Postdoc: Children’s Hospital Boston, & Harvard Medical School (2004-05) Harvard Medical School (2000-04) Member, Cell & Developmental Biology Research Group (Life Sciences Institute) Tula Foundation Investigator (Brain Research Centre)