Section: Rotations

Postdoctoral Position Available

Athena Andreadis, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Associate Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Cell Biology

Other Affiliation(s):
   Program in Neuroscience

Rotation Project Background

Our research centers on tau, a protein which stabilizes the cytoskeleton of the neuronal axon. Tau has additional functions (for example, it also dictates microtubule spacing and hence axon caliber, and it also interacts with the axonal membrane, forming part of a signal cascade) and discharges them by producing variants via a molecular mechanism known as alternative splicing. Misregulation of tau splicing results in frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism, the second most common dementia after Alzheimer's. So our focus is dual: to discover 1) the mechanisms and factors which govern tau alternative splicing and 2) the additional functions and ligands of the tau protein.

Potential Rotation Projects

1. Analysis of novel ligands which interact with specific domains of the tau protein
2. Analysis of known splicing factors which regulate tau alternative splicing
3. Examination of the expression patterns of tau isoform variants in neuronal tissues at different developmental stages
4. Investigation of saitohin, a primate-specific gene nested in the tau locus that confers susceptibility to dementia

Techniques: cloning by various methods, directed mutagenesis, protein expression and purification in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, Westerns, Northerns, Northwesterns, PCR, RT-PCR, mammalian cell culture, transfections, in vitro binding and crosslinking assays, two- and three-hybrid systems (yeast and mammalian), co-immunoprecipitations, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridizations

Office: S7-326
Phone: 508-856-1414
E-mail: Athena.Andreadis@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Neurobiology, Cytoskeleton, Gene Expression, Neurodegeneration, RNA Splicing

More on Athena Andreadis' Research Research | Publications | Rotations | Biography View All Sections on One Page

Postdoctoral Position Available A position is available immediately to study regulation of the mammalian nervous system at the molecular level. The research will focus on mechanisms and consequences of expressing isoforms of neuronal-specific genes that arise from alternative splicing. Candidates should have a Ph. D. with experience in molecular and cellular biology; knowledge of immunological techniques is strongly desirable. Please send C. V. and the names/phone numbers/email addresses of three references. For more details, please contact Dr. Andreadis. UMMS is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.