Faculty Profile
Address:
701 West 168th Street
Room 1013
New York, NY 10032
Phone: 212-305-1531
Fax: 212-568-8473
| Education and Training | ||
| Ph.D. | 1977 | Cambridge University, UK |
Affiliations
Stem
Cell Consortium Center
for Neurobiology & Behavior Biochem. & Molecular
Biophysics Howard
Hughes Medical Institute
Training
Activities
Integrated
Program in Cellular, Molecular & Biophysical Studies
Instructor
- Neuroscience Course
Training
program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
Doctoral
Program in Neurobiology & Behavior
MD/PhD
Program
| Thomas
M. Jessell, Ph.D. Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics |
Research
Summary
Jessell
Lab
Dr.
Jessell's Howard Hughes Medical Institute Profile
Define mechanisms that specify the identity of neurons, the patterning of their axonal projections, and the formation of selective synaptic connections.
Studies on the early differentiation of neurons combine immunochemical and molecular techniques to identify genes involved in cell fate determination. We are developing expression systems which permit the introduction of these genes into early developing neuroblasts. We use these techniques to examine lineage relationships among functional subsets of neurons, and to determine the extent to which neuroblast differentiation is influenced by interactions with other cells in the central nervous system.
We are using biochemical and immunological techniques to identify molecules that mediate the guidance of developing axons. The function of molecules implicated in axon guidance and in cell adhesion and recognition is assessed by modifying the projection patterns of neurons early in development.
In addition we are using molecular cloning techniques to isolate some of the genes that encode surface proteins and diffusible tropic factors that contribute to axon guidance and cell recognition.
Selected Publications
1. William, C.M., Tanabe, Y. and Jessell, T.M. (2003). Regulation of motor neuron subtype identity by repressor activity of Mnx homeodomain proteins. Development, 130, 1523-1536.
2. Gunhaga, L., Marklund, M., Campbell, K., Jessell, T.M., and Edlund, T. (2003). Dorsoventral patterning of the prospective telencephalon by hierarchical Wnt and BMP signaling. Nat. Neurosci. 6, 701-707.
3. Kania, A. and Jessell, T.M. (2003). Topographic motor projections in the limb imposed by LIM homeodomain protein regulation of Ephrin-A: EphA interactions. Neuron, 38, 581-596.
4. Patel, T.D., Kramer, I., Kucera, J., Niederkofler, V., Jessell, T.M., Arber, S., and Snider, W.D. (2003). Peripheral NT3 signaling is required for ETS protein expression and central patterning of proprioceptive sensory afferents. Neuron, 38 403-416.
5. Brivanlou, A.H., Gage, F.H., Jaenisch, R., Jessell, T., Melton, D., and Rossant, J. (2003). Setting standards for human embryonic stem cells. Science 300, 913-916.
6. Novitch, B.G., Wichterle, H., Jessell, T.M., and Sockanathan, S. (2003). A requirement for retinoic acid mediated transcriptional activation in ventral neural patterning and motor neuron specification. Neuron, In Press.
Current Projects
1.
Control of Motor Neuron Differentiation
The major goal of this proposal is to clarify the molecular events
that control the differentiation of motor neurons in the developing spinal
cord. Inductive signals mediated by the secreted factor Sonic hedgehog
(Shh) have been shown to initiate the differentiation of neural progenitor
cells into motor neurons by activating or repressing the expression of
transcription factors, most notably homeodomain proteins.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
8/1/1994-8/31/2005
2.
Development of neural circuits for simple reflex behavior
The major aim of this project is to define the molecular mechanism that
controls the differentiation of motor neurons and interneurons that underlie
the formation and function of motor circuits in the developing spinal
cord. The project will focus in particular on the key role of transcription
factors in the specification of neuronal subtype identity in the ventral
spinal cord.
National Institute of Mental Health
Honors and Awards
| 1996 | J. Allyn Taylor International Prize for Medicine (with Corey S. Goodman) |
| 1997 | Directors Lecture: National Institutes of Health |
| 1998 | Honorary D.Phil., Umea University, Sweden |
| 1998 | Ameritec Foundation Prize |
| 1999 | John Enders Lecture, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School |
| 1999 | Richard Bunge Memorial Lecture; University of Miami |
| 2000 | Bristol Myers Squibb, Distinguished Achievement in Neuroscience Award |
| 2000 | Jansen Prize in Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine |
| 2001 | March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology (with Corey S. Goodman) |
Keywords
developmental neurobiology, motor neuron, neurogenesis, neurogenetics, nonmammalian vertebrate embryology, transcription factor, antisense nucleic acid, axon, biological signal transduction, biomarker, cell differentiation, complementary DNA, gene expression, neural plate /tube, protein structure function, spinal cord, chick embryo, electroporation, laboratory mouse, transgenic animal