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Matthew P. Dunn
Postdoctoral Associate
Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Center for Developmental Genetics, CMM room 348
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-5130
(ph) 631-632-8438 (f) 631-632-1692
mpdunn@stonybrook.edu
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The Nematostella vectensis regeneration
transcriptome
The ability to regenerate missing or damaged tissues is a
fundamental property of many animals. Wound healing, for example, is a
modest form of regeneration that happens in all animals, but truly
dramati regenerative capacities, such as the ability to replace almost any
body part, is more rare and special in the animal kingdom. The ability of
an animal to regenerate its tissues and organs varies greatly across
species and phyla and depends on the animal or tissue in question. Humans
can constantly regenerate the gut epithelium, skin and blood, as well as
repair wounds to most tissues, but we cannot regenerate amputated limbs,
severed nerves or damaged heart tissue, as examples. Yet some vertebrates,
particularly amphibians such as newts and salamanders, can regenerate
entire amputated limbs or nearly any damaged or missing part of their
bodies. Many invertebrate animals have even more spectacular capacities to
regenerate missing parts. Planarians, which are flatworms (phylum
platyhelminthes), have been classically famous for their ability to regrow
a missing heads or tail when cut in half transversely. A wide variety of
annelid worms (such as earthworms or marine polychaetes) can regrow
severed parts and damaged hearts, and starfish can regenerate legs. Even
so-called “simple” animals of ancient phyla such as hydras,
jellyfish and sea anemones can regenerate their entire body from small
rudiments of adult tissue. Indeed, the ability of animals to regenerate
seems to be deeply conserved in evolution, yet that capacity is relatively
limited for many animals including humans. Research on animal regeneration
aims to unlock common molecular mechanisms of regeneration and harness
them for application to human health issues.
The Contribution of Stem Cells to Regeneration in the Sea Anemone
Abstract of the project...
Dunn MP and A DiGregorio.
The
evolutionarily
conserved leprecan gene: its regulation by Brachyury and its role
in the developing Ciona notochord. Dev Biol. 2009 Apr 15; 328(2): 561-74.
Passamaneck YJ, Katikala L, Perrone L, Dunn MP, Oda-Ishii I, Di Gregorio A. Direct activation of a notochord cis-regulatory module by Brachyury and FoxA in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Development 2009 Nov; 136(21): 3679-89.
Capellini TD*, Dunn MP*, Passamaneck YJ,
Selleri L, Di Gregorio A.
Conservation of Notochord Gene Expression across Chordates: Insights from
the Leprecan Gene Family. Genesis. 2008 Sep. 17; 46(11): 683-696.
*Co-first-authors
Lewis PM, Dunn
MP, McMahon JA, Logan M, Martin
SF, St-Jacques B,
McMahon AP. Cholesterol Modification of Sonic Hedgehog Is Required for
Long-Range Signaling Activity and Effective Modulation of Signaling by
Ptc1. Cell. 2001 Jun1; 105(5):
599-612.
2008
Ph.D., Department of Cell and
Developmental Biology
Weill
Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University
Advisor: Dr. Anna Di
Gregorio
1998
Bachelor of Sciences and
Engineering: BioEngineering
School of Engineering
and Applied Sciences
University of Pennsylvania
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