James Crandall, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Research Associate Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Cell Biology

Other Affiliation(s):
   Program in Neuroscience

Neuronal Migration in the Embryonic Cerebral Cortex

Correct cell movement is essential for the development of a normally functioning brain. Neurons must move long distances before they elaborate complex processes and form connections. Environmental and genetic disturbances which disrupt neuronal migration lead to diseases that include epilepsy, schizophrenia, and developmental disabilities related to these brain malformations. Dr. Crandall studies early neuronal development of the cerebral cortex in normal and mutant mice; specifically, how neuronal cells divide, migrate, differentiate, and establish their shape and synapses. His approach, using in vitro brain slices, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy and computer-aided image analysis analyzes cellular interactions of neurons as they move from their birthplace to their final destination. In genetic mouse mutants, early developing neurons in the cerebral cortex do not reach their correct destination, nor do they form normal processes. Such fundamental knowledge will eventually enable scientists to repair abnormal cells and molecules, thereby leading to prevention and treatment of many prenatal brain disorders that presently lead to mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

Ongoing Projects

Development of the Cerebral Cortex
Prenatal Cocaine Exposure Affects Forebrain Development

Teaching Courses

Histology

Representative Publications

Vasudevan, A., Long, J.E., Crandall, J.E., Rubenstein, J.L.R. and Bhide, P.G. Compartment-specific transcription factors orchestrate angiogenesis gradients in the embryonic brain. Nature Neurosciences 11:429-439, 2008.

Zhang, S., Edelmann, L., Liu, J., Crandall, J.E. and Morabito, M.A. Cdk5 regulates the phosphorylation of Y1472 NR2B and the surface expression of NMDA receptors. Journal of Neuroscience, 28:415-424, 2008.

Wang, W., Mullikin-Kilpatrick, D., Crandall, J.E., Gronostajski, R.M., Litwack, E.D. and Kilpatrick, D.L. Nuclear factor I coordinates multiple phases of cerebellar granule cell development via regulation of cell adhesion molecules. Journal of Neuroscience, 27:6115-6127, 2007.

Funari, V.A., Crandall, J.E. and Tolan, D.R.  Fructose metabolism in the cerebellum. Cerebellum 6:130-140,  2007.

Crandall, J.E., McCarthy, D.M., Araki, K.Y., Sims, J.R., Ren, J.-Q. and Bhide, P.G. Dopamine receptor activation modulates cortical GABA neuron migration from the basal forebrain to the cerebral cortex. Journal of Neuroscience, 27:3813-3822, 2007.

Qu, Q., Crandall, J.E., McCaffery, P.J. and Smith, F.I. Defects in tangential neuronal migration of pontine nuclei neurons in the Large myd mouse are associated with stalled migration in the ventrolateral hindbrain. European Journal of Neuroscience, 23:2877-2886, 2006.

McCaffery, P., Crandall, J.E. and Zhang, J. Retinoic acid signaling and function in the adult hippocampus.  Journal of Neurobiology, 66:780-791, 2005.

Academic Background

Previous appointments:

Office: S7-119
Phone: 63818
E-mail: James.Crandall@umassmed.edu

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