Publications
- Xie X., V.J. Auld 2011. Integrins are necessary for the development and maintenance of the glial layers in the Drosophila peripheral nerve. Development 3813-3822
- Padash-Barmchi M., K. Browne, K. Sturgeon, B. Jusiak, V.J. Auld 2010. Control of Gliotactin localization and levels by tyrosine phosphorylation and endocytosis is necessary for survival of polarized epithelia. J Cell Sci 123: 4052-4062
- Schulte, J., K. Charish, J. Que, S. Ravn, C. MacKinnon, V.J. Auld 2006. Gliotactin and Discs large form a protein complex at the tricellular junction of polarized epithelial cells in Drosophila. J Cell Sci 119: 4391-401
- Venema, D.R., T. Zeev-Ben-Mordehai, V.J. Auld 2004. Transient apical polarization of Gliotactin and Coracle is required for parallel alignment of wing hairs in Drosophila. Dev Biol. 275: 301-14
- Schulte, J., U. Tepass, V.J. Auld 2003. Gliotactin, a novel marker of tricellular junctions, is necessary for septate junction development in Drosophila. J Cell Biol. 161: 991-1000
Vanessa Auld
Professor, Associate Dean of Science
Email:
Office phone: 604-822-1977 (Zoology) 604-822-4213 (Associate Dean)
Lab phone: 604 822 0697
Web page: Cell and Developmental Biology, Auld Lab page
Research area: Cell and Developmental Biology
Lab Members: M. Das, M. Gilbert, L. Petley-Ragan, Z. Sharif Khodaei, X. Xie
History: B.Sc.: U.B.C.
Ph.D.: Toronto
My research program investigates the roles that glia play in the development and function of the nervous system. Glia are known to fulfill a number of important functions during nervous system development. Glia help guide axon guidance, separate axons bundles in nerves and finally wrap and insulate their associated axons and nerves. However many of the molecules and signals that mediate these roles of glia have yet to be determined. This is important given the essential role that glia play in the nervous systems of all animals. Any mutation or disease that disrupts glial cell function or development results in disruption of nervous system function and can lead to paralysis or death of the animal.
One approach to study molecular and cellular interactions that occur between glia and neurons during development is to use a genetic approach. The organism of choice for these studies is the fruit-fly, Drosophila melanogaster, because of the powerful genetic tools that can be applied to study the molecular interactions that occur during nervous system development. There are many parallels between the glia in of vertebrates and Drosophila and we have shown that many of the same molecular cues are conserved. For instance, we have shown that the glia of the peripheral nervous system in Drosophila are strikingly similar to the vertebrate peripheral glia (Schwann cells) in terms of morphology, developmental dynamics and molecular composition. We have shown that disruptions in the glia of the peripheral nervous system can lead to loss of nervous system function, neurodegeneration and death in Drosophila.
We use a combination of genetics, molecular and cell biology to study glial genes that are expressed during the development of the embryonic nervous system. We are using the advantages of Drosophila genetics to create new mutations in glial genes that disrupt the formation of the peripheral nervous system. We are interested in multiple aspects of glial cell development and function:
1. What are the proteins that drive glia migration?
2. What causes the glial cells to ensheathe/wrap their associated axons?
3. What triggers the formation of the glial based blood-brain barrier?
4. What are the molecules that form the blood-brain barrier between glial cells and how do they interact?
Teaching:
Biology 530 Neurobiology
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