Return to: College of Biological Sciences: Medical School: U of M Home
Gold University of Minnesota M. Skip to main content.University of Minnesota. Home page.
One Stop | Directories | Search U of M 
 
GCD Home: DBC Home: Beckman Center Home: MCDBG Home: MCB Home
Jocelyn Shaw, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Mailing Address:
University of Minnesota
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development
6-160 Jackson
321 Church St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
USA
Education:
Ph.D., University of Toronto, 1981
Office:
4-108 MCB
P: 612-625-1912
F: 612-625-5754

Email:
shawx005@umn.edu

 Lab:
4-210 MCB
P: 612-625-9238

Areas of Research Strength:

Cell interactions
Cytoskeleton and cell motility
Developmental mechanisms
Neuroscience
Genetic mechanisms

back to top

Research Techniques:

genetics, such as mutant screens and mapping mutations
DIC and fluorescence microscopy
cloning and sequencing
in situ hybridization
preparation of antibodies
laser ablation

back to top

Research Interests:

The Shaw laboratory aims to gain insight into processes involved
in embryogenesis and in nervous system development. The lab
is focussing their research on the model organism C. elegans,
a simple and developmentally well-described animal, for which
the wiring diagram of the nervous system is known.

Currently, the lab is studying the role that gap junctional communication
plays in animal embryogenesis. Gap junctions allow direct intercellular
communication through channels that permit small molecules, such as
second messenger signals, ions and metabolites to pass between cells.
Although gap junctions are present in all types of embryonic cells in animals,
their function in embryonic development is not understood. The lab is
investigating several gap junction genes, which are essential for normal
development, to understand the processes for which they are required.

The investigation into nervous system development involves analyzing
mutants whose nervous systems function abnormally. The Shaw lab has
cloned several genes identified by these mutants and are in the process
of analyzing the function of the proteins encoded by these genes. Interests
include genes that are required for proper neuronal structure, proper axonal
guidance, and proper neuronal connections. Of particular interest, at present,
is a gap junction gene that is required for the proper specificity of electrical
coupling between neurons. The lab is analyzing the roles that this gene plays
in regulating neuronal connections.

The approaches used in the Shaw lab to analyze the function of gap junction
genes in embryonic and neuronal development include genetics, microscopy,
cell lineage analysis, laser killing of specific cells, molecular biology
and immunocytochemistry.

back to top

Selected Publications:

Bell LR, S Stone, J Yochem, JE Shaw and RK Herman (2006) The molecular identities of the Caenortabditis elegans intraflagellar transport genes dyf-6, daf-10, and osm-1. In Press.

Spartz AK, RK Herman and JE Shaw (2004) SMU-2 and SMU-1, C. elegans homologs of mammalian spliceosome-associated proteins RED and fSAP57, work together to affect splice-site choice. Mol. Cell. Bio. 24: 6811-6823.

Starich, T.A., A. Miller, R.L. Nguyen, D.H. Hall and J.E. Shaw. (2003)The Caenorhabditis elegans innexin INX-3 is localized to gap junctions and is essential for embryonic development. Developmental Biology 256:403-417.

Spike, C.A., Davies, A.G., J.E. Shaw and R.K. Herman. (2002) MEC-8 regulates alternative splicing of unc-52 transcripts in C. elegans hypodermis. Development 129, 4999 - 5008.

Spike, C.A., J.E. Shaw and R.K. Herman (2001). Analysis of smu-1, a gene that regulates the alternative splicing of unc-52 pre-mRNA in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol. Cell. Biol.15, 4985 4995.

Landesmman, Y., T.W. White, T.A. Starich, J.E. Shaw, D.A. Goodenough and D.L. Paul (1999) The C. elegans innexin INX-3 forms functional intercellular channels. J. Cell Science 112, 2391-2396.

Davies, A.G., C.A. Spike, J.E. Shaw and R.K. Herman (1999) Functional overlap between the mec-8 gene and five sym genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 153, 117-134.

Collet, J., C.A. Spike, E.A. Lundquist, J.E. Shaw and R.K. Herman (1998) Analysis of osm-6, a gene that affects sensory cilium structure and sensory neuron function in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 148, 187-200.

Lundquist, E.A., R.K. Herman, J.E. Shaw and C.I. Bargmann (1998) UNC-115, a conserved protein with predicted LIM and actin-binding domains, mediates axon guidance in C. elegans. Neuron 21, 385-392.

Phelan, P., J.P. Bacon, J.A. Davies, L.A. Stebbins, M.G. Todman, L. Avery, R.A. Baines, T.M. Barnes, C. Ford, S. Hekimi, R. Lee, J.E. Shaw, T.A. Starich, K.D. Curtin , Y. Sun and R.J. Wyman (1998) Innexins: a family of invertebrate gap junction proteins. Trends in Genetics 14, 348-349.

Starich, T.A., R.Y.N. Lee, C. Panzarella, L. Avery, and J.E. Shaw (1996) eat-5 and unc-7 represent a multi-gene family in Caenorhabditis elegans involved in cell-cell coupling. J. Cell Biol. 134, 537-548.


To view these and other publications visit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed
search menu should say PubMed
type Shaw JE in the avaliable line

back to top

Related Links:

back to top


 
©2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Trouble seeing the text? | Contact U of M | Privacy
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
 Last modified on Monday, July 24, 2006