Summary
The wiring of nervous systems is composed of w88 slot online, specialized extensions of neurons that transmit electrical impulses. During development w88 slot online navigate long distances to their targets. We use fruit fly genetics to study how w88 slot online navigate correctly. We are particularly interested in a navigational cue called Slit that normally repels growing w88 slot online, but can be processed into a signal that promotes axon growth and branching. Slit fragments may even attract w88 slot online, in part by binding the Dscam protein. We also study formation of the gut nervous system, using feeding as a behavioral readout. We are interested in how nerve wiring genes are re-used in processes as diverse as heart development, metabolism and promoting life or cell death. Although the fly is a relatively simple organism, almost every gene identified appears to be carrying out similar functions in humans.
Biography
- 1994-1999 Postdoctoral Fellow, w88 slot online California at Berkeley
- 1999-2003 Senior Scientist, Exelixis Inc., South San Francisco
- 2003-present w88 slot online Department, University of Nevada, Reno
Education
- B.A., w88 slot online, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, 1990
- Ph.D., Zoology, Oxford University, England, 1994
Courses taught
- w88 slot online/PSY 105 Introduction to Neuroscience
- BIOL 466/666 Developmental w88 slot online
Selected publications
w88 slot online Google Scholar profile
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- Hernández, K., Myers, L., Bowser, M. and w88 slot online, T. (2015). Genetic tools for the analysis of Drosophila stomatogastric nervous system development. PLoS One 10(6):e0128290.
- Alavi, M., Song, M., King, G.A., Gillis, T., Propst, R., Bousum, A., Miller, A., Ryan, A. and Kidd, T. (2016). Dscam1 forms a complex with Robo1 and the N-terminal fragment of Slit to promote the growth of longitudinal axons. PLOS w88 slot online 96:771-784.
- Justice, E., Barnum, S. and w88 slot online, T. (2017). The WAGR syndrome gene PRRG4 is a functional homologue of the Commissureless axon guidance gene. PLOS Genetics, 13(8): e1006865.
- Myers, L.M., Perera, H., Alvarado, M.G. and w88 slot online, T. (2018). The Drosophila Ret gene functions in the stomatogastric nervous system with the Maverick TGFbeta ligand and the Gfrl co-receptor. w88 slot online 145: dev157466.
- Kellermeyer, R., Heydman, L.M., Mastick, G.S. & w88 slot online, T. (2018). The role of apoptotic signaling in axon guidance. J. Dev. Biol. 6:24.
- Zhang, Z., So, K., Peterson, R., Bauer, M., Ng, H., Zhang, Y., Kim, J.H, w88 slot online, T. & Miura, P. (2019). Elav-mediated exon skipping and alternative polyadenylation of the Dscam1 gene is required for axon outgrowth. Cell Reports, 27:3808-3817.