Faculty

• B.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1989.
• Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1995.
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Post-Doctoral Scholar, University of California-SanFrancisco, 1995-1996.
• Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Cancer Research Fund Post-Doctoral Scholar, University of California-San Francisco, 1996-1999.
• National Institutes of Health Post-Doctoral Scholar, University of California-San Francisco, 1999-2000.

Developmental Neurobiology

How are the neurons of the brain wired up? How does the axon of a neuron locate its proper target in the nervous system? A normally-formed axon scaffold is necessary for nervous system function (including the brain). We use the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for neuronal development and axon pathfinding. Axons are guided to their targets in the developing nervous system by the growth cone, a fan-shaped sensory-motile structure at the distal tip of an extending axon. Transmembrane receptor molecules present on the surface of the growth cone detect extracellular cues (such as UNC-6/Netrin, Slit, and the semaphorins) that provide guidance information. A growth cone responds to guidance receptor signals by regulating the dynamics of the growth cone actin cytoskeleton, which underlies growth cone outgrowth and steering. Work in this lab is aimed at understanding the signal transduction pathways that link guidance receptor signals to the actin cytoskeleton of a growth cone.

Recent work has focused on the role of the Rho GTPases in neuronal development. Rho GTPases are members of signaling pathways that link guidance receptors to the cytoskeleton. the lab has identified the UNC-115 protein (called abLIM in humans), which is actin-binding protein that acts with Rho GTPases and might modulate the actin cytoskeleton directly in response to guidance signals. Other studies in the lab have identified new and previously-identified proteins that control growth cone outgrowth during development of the nervous system.

Representative Publications

M.A. Shakir, J.S. Gill and E.A. Lunquist. 2006.

Interactions of UNC-34 Enabled with Rac GTPases and the NIK kinase MIG-15 in Caenorhabditis elegans axon pathfinding and neuronal migration.

Y. Yang, J. Lu, J. Rovnak, S.L. Quackenbush and E.A. Lundquist. 2006.

SWAN-1, a C. elegans WD repeat protein of the AN11 family, is a negative regulator of Rac GTPase function.

Y. Yang and E.A. Lundquist. 2005.

The actin-binding protein UNC-115/abLIM controls lamellipodia and filopodia formation and neuronal morphogenesis in C. elegans. Mol Cell Biol 25, 5158-5170.

J.L. Yanowitz, M.A. Shakir, E. Hedgecock, H. Hutter, A.Z. Fire, and E.A. Lundquist. 2004.

UNC-39, the C. elegans homolog of the human myotonic dystrophy-associated homeodomain protein Six5, regulates cell motility and differentiation. Developmental Biology 272, 389-402.

E. A. Lundquist. 2003.

“Rac Proteins and the Control of Axon Development.” Current Opin Neurobiol 13(3): 384-390.

Gitai Z, Yu TW, Lundquist EA, Tessier-Lavigne M, Bargmann CI. 2003.

The Netrin Receptor UNC-40/DCC Stimulates Axon Attraction and Outgrowth through Enabled and, in Parallel, Rac and UNC-115/AbLIM. Neuron. 37(1):53-65.

Struckhoff EC, Lundquist EA. 2002.

The actin-binding protein UNC-115 is an effector of Rac signaling during axon pathfinding in C. elegans Development 130(4):693-704.

Erik A. Lundquist, Peter W. Reddien, Erika Hartwieg, H. Robert Horvitz and Cornelia I. Bargmann. 2001.

Three C. elegans Rac Proteins and Several Alternative Rac Regulators Control Axon Guidance, Cell Migration, and Apoptotic Cell Phagocytosis. Development 128:4475-4488.

E.A. Lundquist, 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.

J.C. Collet, 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.

E.A. Lundquist, R.K. Herman, T.M. Rogalski, G.P. Mullen, D.G. Moerman and J.E. Shaw, 1996.

The mec-8 Gene of C. elegans Encodes a Protein with Two RNA-Recognition Motifs and Regulates Alternative Splicing of unc-52 Transcripts.Development 122: 1601-1610.

E.A. Lundquist and R.K. Herman, 1994.

The mec-8 Gene of C. elegans Affects Muscle and Sensory Neuron Function and Interacts with Three Other Genes: unc-52, smu-1 and smu-2. Genetics 138: 83-101.

M.A. Crosby, E.A. Lundquist, R.M. Tautvydas and J.J. Johnson, 1993.

The 3' Regulatory Region of the Abdominal-B Gene: Genetic Analysis Supports a Model ofReiterated and Interchangeable Regulatory Elements. Genetics 134: 809-824.

Postdoctoral Research Positions Available

Higuchi Biosciences Center

Duties:

1. Conduct independent research involving the molecular genetics of neuronal development in the nematode C. elegans or research pertaining to other interests of the lab.
2. Prepare data for publication and assist in writing scientific manuscripts.
3. Read the scientific literature and present summaries of recent work in the field as well as original research.
4. Present original research at international scientific conferences.

Required Qualifications:

1. Ph.D. in molecular biology, cell biology, developmental biology, neurobiology, biochemistry, genetics, or related field.
2. Proven experience in laboratory work involving molecular biology, cell biology, developmental biology, neurobiology, biochemistry, genetics,or related field.
3. Proven ability to communicate effectively and to work well with others in a laboratory environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Experience with C. elegans molecular genetics.
2. Experience with biochemical manipulations of proteins.
3. Proven experience with scientific writing and presentation.
4. Good organizational skills.

Application Procedure:

Apply online at http://jobs.ku.edu.  Apply for the position titled: POOL:Post Doctoral Researcher, Position #00068723.  Attach a cover letter (referencing developmental neurobiology positions), CV and all contact information for 3 references.

EO/AA employer