Timothy Henion, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Research Assistant Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Cell Biology

Glycan Function in Nervous System Development

The surface of all cells is modified by a diverse array of complex carbohydrate structures that are required for normal cell function. Many neurons in particular express unique glycans that are rarely found in other tissues, suggesting specific roles in nervous system development.  These glycoconjugates are attached to protein and lipids by specific glycosyltransferase enzymes. Recently, a number of human diseases that severely affect normal brain development have been found to  result from genetic mutations in glycosyltransferase genes. There is now strong evidence that carbohydrates influence many aspects of normal brain development, including  signaling pathways that regulate neuronal cell fate, migration, and the formation of axon connections with target tissues.

Our research specifically examines the functional role of glycosylation during sensory nervous system development. We focus mainly on the olfactory system, which is responsible for our perception of smell and the transmission of odorant information to the brain.  This region of the nervous system is unique in that the projections of neurons from the sensory periphery to the central nervous system is highly stereotyped, and continually regenerated throughout life.  This allows the function of glycoconjugates in neuronal cell fate and axon guidance to be studied in great detail.  The information obtained is also being applied to help understand glycan functions during the development of other sensory systems, including those involved in hearing and pain perception.

Notch Signaling in Olfactory Progenitor Cell Fate

Lactosamine Glycan Function in Sensory System Development

Representative Publications

Henion TR, Raitcheva D, Grosholz R, Biellmann F, Skarnes WC, Hennet T, Schwarting GA. (2005)  b 3GnT1 Glycosylation is Required for Axon Pathfinding by Olfactory Sensory Neurons.  Journal of Neuroscience  (In press).

Chou DK, Henion TR, Jungalwala FB. (2003) Regulation of expression of sulfoglucuronyl carbohydrate (HNK-1), Amphoterin and RAGE in retinoic acid-differentiated P19 embryonal carcinoma cells.  Journal of Neurochemistry 86(4): 917-31.

Henion TR, Qu Q, Smith FI. (2003) Expression of dystroglycan, fukutin and POMGnT1 during mouse cerebellar development. Molecular Brain Research 112(1-2):177-81.

Davis AM, Henion TR, Tobet SA. (2002) Gamma-aminobutyric AcidB receptors and the development of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus.  Journal of Comparative Neurology 449: 270-280.

Henion TR, Zhou D, Wolfer DP, Jungalwala FB, Hennet T. (2001) Cloning of a mouse b 1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase GlcNAc( b 1,3)Gal( b 1,4)Glc-ceramide synthase gene encoding the key regulator of lacto-series glycolipid biosynthesis. Journal of Biological Chemistry 276 (32): 30261-30269.

Zhou D, Henion, TR, Jungalwala FB, Berger EG, Hennet T. (2000) The b 1,3-galactosyltransferase b 3GalT-V is a stage specific embryonic antigen-3 (SSEA-3) synthase.  Journal of Biological Chemistry 275 (30): 22631-22634.

Baboval T, Henion T, Kinnally E, Smith FI. (2000) Molecular cloning of rat a 1,3-fucosyltransferase IX (Fuc-TIX) and comparison of the expression of Fuc-TIV and Fuc-TIX genes during rat postnatal cerebellum development.  Journal of Neuroscience Research 62: 206-215.

Henion TR, Gerhard W, Anaraki F, Galili U. (1997) Synthesis of a -gal epitopes on influenza virus vaccines by recombinant a1 ,3-galactosyltransferase enables the formation of immune complexes with natural anti-gal antibody. Vaccine11: 1174-82.

LaTemple, DC., Henion, TR, Anaraki, FA, Galili, U. (1996) Synthesis of -galactosyl epitopes by recombinant a 1,3-galactosyltransferase for opsonization of human tumor cell vaccines by anti-gal.  Cancer Research 56: 3069-3074.

Henion, TR, Macher, BA, Anaraki, F, Galili, U. (1994) The minimal size of active primate a 1,3 galactosyltransferase: structure function studies on the truncated cDNA.  Glycobiology 4: 193-201.

Academic Background

Current appointments:

Office: S3-241
Phone: 508-856-1827
E-mail: Timothy.Henion@umassmed.edu

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