Resume

• 1991

  PhD

  Genetics

  The University of British Columbia

• 1987

  BSc

  Biology

  The University of British Columbia

  Preparing Future Faculty

• Western Blotting

  qPCR

  Protein Expression

  Cell

  Molecular Biology

  Cell Biology

  Molecular Genetics

  Teaching

  Genetics

  Developmental Biology

  Laboratory

  Scientific Writing

  Confocal Microscopy

  Molecular Cloning

  Fluorescence Microscopy

  Genetic interactions between UNC-17/VAChT and a novel transmembrane protein in Caenorhabditis elegans.

  James B. Rand

  Janet S. Duerr

  Jonathon Hodgkin

  Eleanor A. Mathews

  The unc-17 gene encodes the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) in Caenorhabditis elegans. unc-17 reduction-of-function mutants are small

  slow growing

  and uncoordinated. Several independent unc-17 alleles are associated with a glycine-to-arginine substitution (G347R)

  which introduces a positive charge in the ninth transmembrane domain (TMD) of UNC-17. To identify proteins that interact with UNC-17/VAChT

  we screened for mutations that suppress the uncoordinated phenotype of UNC-17(G347R) mutants. We identified several dominant allele-specific suppressors

  including mutations in the sup-1 locus. The sup-1 gene encodes a single-pass transmembrane protein that is expressed in a subset of neurons and in body muscles. Two independent suppressor alleles of sup-1 are associated with a glycine-to-glutamic acid substitution (G84E)

  resulting in a negative charge in the SUP-1 TMD. A sup-1 null mutant has no obvious deficits in cholinergic neurotransmission and does not suppress unc-17 mutant phenotypes. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analysis demonstrated close association of SUP-1 and UNC-17 in synapse-rich regions of the cholinergic nervous system

  including the nerve ring and dorsal nerve cords. These observations suggest that UNC-17 and SUP-1 are in close proximity at synapses. We propose that electrostatic interactions between the UNC-17(G347R) and SUP-1(G84E) TMDs alter the conformation of the mutant UNC-17 protein

  thereby restoring UNC-17 function; this is similar to the interaction between UNC-17/VAChT and synaptobrevin.

  Genetic interactions between UNC-17/VAChT and a novel transmembrane protein in Caenorhabditis elegans.

  James B. Rand

  Eleanor A. Mathews

  John R. McManus

  John A. Crowell

  Robert J. Hobson

  Shigeki Watanabe

  Mingyu Gu

  Kiely Grundahl

  The recycling of synaptic vesicles requires the recovery of vesicle proteins and membrane. Members of the stonin protein family (Drosophila Stoned B

  mammalian stonin 2) have been shown to link the synaptic vesicle protein synaptotagmin to the endocytic machinery. Here we characterize the unc-41 gene

  which encodes the stonin ortholog in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Transgenic expression of Drosophila stonedB rescues unc-41 mutant phenotypes

  demonstrating that UNC-41 is a bona fide member of the stonin family. In unc-41 mutants

  synaptotagmin is present in axons

  but is mislocalized and diffuse. In contrast

  UNC-41 is localized normally in synaptotagmin mutants

  demonstrating a unidirectional relationship for localization. The phenotype of snt-1 unc-41 double mutants is stronger than snt-1 mutants

  suggesting that UNC-41 may have additional

  synaptotagmin-independent functions. We also show that unc-41 mutants have defects in synaptic vesicle membrane endocytosis

  including a ∼50% reduction of vesicles in both acetylcholine and GABA motor neurons. These endocytic defects are similar to those observed in apm-2 mutants

  which lack the µ2 subunit of the AP2 adaptor complex. However

  no further reduction in synaptic vesicles was observed in unc-41 apm-2 double mutants

  suggesting that UNC-41 acts in the same endocytic pathway as µ2 adaptin.

  UNC-41/stonin functions with AP2 to recycle synaptic vesicles in Caenorhabditis elegans.

  James B. Rand

  Michael W. Quick

  Robert J. Barstead

  Gary Moulder

  John R. McManus

  Stephen D. Fields

  Paurush Saxena

  Eleanor A. Mathews

  Sodium-dependent neurotransmitter transporters participate in the clearance and/or recycling of neurotransmitters from synaptic clefts. The snf-11 gene in Caenorhabditis elegans encodes a protein of high similarity to mammalian GABA transporters (GATs). We show here that snf-11 encodes a functional GABA transporter; SNF-11–mediated GABA transport is Na+ and Cl− dependent

  has an EC50 value of 168 μM

  and is blocked by the GAT1 inhibitor SKF89976A. The SNF-11 protein is expressed in seven GABAergic neurons

  several additional neurons in the head and retrovesicular ganglion

  and three groups of muscle cells. Therefore

  all GABAergic synapses are associated with either presynaptic or postsynaptic (or both) expression of SNF-11. Although a snf-11 null mutation has no obvious effects on GABAergic behaviors

  it leads to resistance to inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. In vivo

  a snf-11 null mutation blocks GABA uptake in at least a subset of GABAergic cells; in a cell culture system

  all GABA uptake is abolished by the snf-11 mutation. We conclude that GABA transport activity is not essential for normal GABAergic function in C. elegans and that the localization of SNF-11 is consistent with a GABA clearance function rather than recycling.

  The Caenorhabditis elegans snf-11 Gene Encodes a Sodium-dependent GABA Transporter Required for Clearance of Synaptic GABA.

  I have considerable scientific expertise in genetics

  imaging

  cell biology and molecular biology. My writing is clear and well-organized

  and I have written (or co-written) many publications over the last ten years. I am a creative thinker

  who is self-disciplined

  and is capable of working independently. I have helped mentor new lab personnel

  including undergraduate and graduate students in the lab. I hold to high standards

  especially with respect to scientific rigor and ethical conduct. I have participated in a number of collaborations

  with co-workers at OMRF

  as well as colleagues elsewhere.

  Greg

  Department of Zoology

  Department of Zoology

  University of British Columbia

  Oklahoma City University

  Michael Smith Laboratories

  University of British Columbia

  University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

  Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation

  2501 N Blackwelder Ave Oklahoma City

  OK 73106

  I am thrilled to be teaching Genetics (Fall semester) and Cell Biology (Spring semester) as an Adjunct Instructor at Oklahoma City University! The students are wonderful

  and I am trying my very best to be a great teacher!

  Adjunct Professor

  Oklahoma City University

  Vancouver

  British Columbia

  Canada

  I worked on muscle sarcomere assembly in the nematode C. elegans with Dr. Donald Moerman. My research addressed the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteoglycan Perlecan in anchoring the contractile apparatus to the underlying ECM.

  Graduate Student

  Department of Zoology

  University of British Columbia

  I am excited and honored to join the Department of Biology at Oklahoma City University as an Assistant Professor! I will be officially starting in the Fall semester of 2014. This is a wonderful opportunity for me

  and I appreciate the strong support and encouragement of all my friends and colleagues! Thank you all so much!

  Oklahoma City University

  Research Scientist

  I am a research scientist at OMRF working on nervous system development and function using a nematode (C. elegans) as a model organism. Our work has implications for human conditions such as Myasthesia gravis and Autism

  as well as providing a general framework for understanding how synaptic release is regulated.

  Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  I worked in the C. elegans Gene Knockout Laboratory with Dr. Donald Moerman. Our lab provided deletion mutants (\"gene knockouts\") to the C. elegans research community. These mutants have provided considerable insight into many biological processes and human disease conditions.

  Michael Smith Laboratories

  University of British Columbia

  Department of Zoology

  University of British Columbia

  1996 – 1998: Teaching Assistant for Biology 334/335 (Introduction to Genetics) and Biology 432 (Advanced Problems in Animal Genetics).\n\n1996 – 1998: Instructor for “A Practical Introduction to Confocal Microscopy”. A one-day hands-on course for users of the BioRad MRC 600 Confocal Microscope at the Biosciences EM Facility at the University of British Columbia.

  Teaching Assistant

  Oklahoma City

  OK

  USA

  2012 – Present: Guest Lecturer for CELL 6331 (GPIBS Molecular Genetics Module) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.\n\n2010 - Present: Guest Speaker at Wiley Post Elementary School. I give fun and informative presentations on a variety of topics

  including rocks and minerals

  and frogs and toads.\n\n2004 – Present: Guest Lecturer for CELL 6063 (Cellular and Molecular Developmental Biology) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.\n\nIn 2010

  I successfully completed the Preparing Future Faculty course (BMSC 6202 and 6300) offered by the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center Graduate College (Melissa S. Medina

  EdD

  instructor). This course is intended to provide the necessary theoretical background and skills to be an effective educator.

  Instructor

  University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

  The Genetics Society of America