Research Interests

Induction and patterning of the central nervous system.

Research Area

The embryos of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, have the been a favorite tool of classical embryologists for over 100 years. Xenopus has been useful in the study of vertebrate development because the embryos are large, easily manipulated and develop externally, allowing analysis at very early, picture of Xenopus laevishighly conserved stages of development. Therefore, embryos can be subjected to microsurgical manipulation to remove or transplant embryonic tissues, or injected to express large quantities of a transcription factor. Such experiments have provided information on the inductive contacts required for pattern formation and have defined many of the molecular interactions involved in early development. The goal of the Casey lab is to define the gene network that controls the induction and patterning of the central nervous system. The CNS is derived from the ectoderm which can develop into either epidermal or neural tissue (see below). The neural tissue can then differentiate into either neurons or glial cells. Many of the signal pathways and transcription facors involved in directing these fate choices are known however, the exact molecular mechanism is unknown. To elucidate this mechanism, our studies focus on the regulation of the SoxB genes which encode highly conserved, HMG box transcription factors involved in the formation of CNS. By studying the regulation of the SoxB genes and the function of proteins, we can piece together the steps that drive ectoderm to develop into epidermis and neural tissue to form a neuron.

Current Members

Silva, Elena S (Principal Investigator/Director)
Cunningham, Doreen D. (Research Associate/Assistant)
Silva Rodriguez, Pablo (Graduate Student)

Additional Information

Presently we are interested in studying neural induction and specification in both Xenopus and the sea squirt Ciona intestinalis. By using both organisms, we can investigate the evolutionary conservation of the regulation and function of the Sox proteins. The aspects of this project in which we are currently focused on are: 1. Identification of genes and regulatory regions involved in early neural induction in the sea squirt (Ciona intestinalis). 2. Defining the Regulation and function of SoxB genes which encode transcription factors involved in neural stem cell maintenance, competence and differentiation in Xenopus laevis. 3. Comparison of the regulatory mechanisms of these neural genes in urochordates (C. intestinalis), hemichordates (Saccoglossus kowalsevskii) and anurans (X. laevis).

Contact

Institution: Georgetown University

Address:
Georgetwon University
406 Reiss Science Building
37th and O st, NW
Washington, DC
20057, USA

Web Page: http://www.casey-lab.com/

General/Lab Phone: 919-962-2138