SABINE FUHRMANN
Sabine Fuhrmann
e-mail: sabine.fuhrmann@hsc.utah.edu		 Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurobiology & Anatomy

The Fuhrmann Lab Home Page
Developmental Neuroscience
Molecular Neuroscience
Neurobiology of Disease
Cellular Neuroscience

Diploma in Biology 1991, University of Oldenburg; Ph.D. 1996, University of Freiburg, Germany; Postdoctoral Fellow 1997-2000, University of Washington, Seattle.

RESEARCH:

Regulation of eye development

An important question is how cellular and tissue-tissue interactions regulate development of the central nervous system (CNS) and what is the nature of the signals involved in these interactions. The vertebrate eye represents an excellent and challenging model since it contains multiple cell and tissue types that must coordinate their development to form a functional unit. Research in my laboratory is aimed at understanding how the different ocular tissues are initially patterned and how cell-cell signaling regulates the differentiation of the retina into a highly organized, multilayered tissue.

We have shown that tissues surrounding the embryonic eye are critical for controlling the development of regional patterns. The molecular signals that mediate these patterning events are, for the most part, unknown. Disruptions of early eye development are associated with multiple congenital eye disorders, including microphthalmia, coloboma and retinal dysplasia. It is thus critical to define the signals that regulate normal patterning and development of the optic vesicle. Signaling molecules like Sonic Hedgehog, TGFB family members, FGFs, and Wnts control patterning and differentiation of the embryonic CNS. We are studying the role of these signaling molecules during early eye development using chick and mouse as model systems.

- We are currently investigating the role of TGFB family members in induction and differentiation of the retinal pigmented epithelium in mouse and chick using explant cultures and in vivo manipulation such as electroporation.

- Several Wnt molecules and the appropriate receptors (Frizzleds) are expressed in the developing vertebrate eye. We are investigating the role of Wnt/Frizzled signaling during early eye development in chick and mouse using a variety of different approaches, such as mutant and transgenic mouse models.

Selected Publications

Levine, E.M., and Fuhrmann, S. (2008) Contribution of environmental factors to rod photoreceptor development: An update on the regulation of rod photoreceptor development. Ophthal Res Series, Visual Transduction and Non-Visual Light Perception, Tombran-Tink J, Barnstable C (Eds.), Vol. 4, in press.

Burns, C.J., Zhang, J., Brown, E.C, Van Bibber, A.M., Van Es, J., Clevers, H., Ishikawa, T., Taketo, M.M., Vetter, M.L., and Fuhrmann, S. (2008) Investigation of Frizzled-5 during embryonic neural development in mouse. Developmental Dyamics, 237:1614-1626.

Fuhrmann, S. (2008) Wnt signaling in eye organogenesis. Organogenesis, 4(2):60-67.

Zhang, J., Fuhrmann, S., and Vetter, M.L. (2008) A non-autonomous role for retinal Frizzled-5 in regulating hyaloid vitreous vasculature development. IOVS, Revision submitted.

Fuhrmann, S., Riesenberg, A., Mathiesen, A.M., Brown, E.C., Vetter, M.L., and Brown, N.L. (2008) Characterization of a transient TCF/LEF-responsive progenitor population in the embryonic mouse retina. IOVS, in press.

Westenskow, P., M., Piccolo, S., and Fuhrmann, S. (2008) B-catenin is required for retinal pigment epithelium development in the embryonic mouse eye. Submitted.

Seydewitz, V., Rothermel, A., Fuhrmann, S., Schneider, A., DeGrip, W.J., Layer, P., and Hofmann, H.-D.(2004) Expression of CNTF receptor a in chick violet-sensitive cones with unique morphological properties. IOVS, 45(2):655-661.

Fuhrmann, S., Stark, M., and Heller, S. (2003) Expression of Frizzled genes in the developing chick eye. Mechanisms of Development/Gene Expression Patterns, 3(5):659-662.

Fuhrmann, S., Grabosch, K., Kirsch, M., and Hofmann, H.-D. (2003) Distribution of CNTF receptor alpha protein in the central nervous system of the chick embryo. J Comp Neurol, 461:111-122.

Fuhrmann, S., Levine, E. M., and Reh, T. A. (2000) Extraocular mesenchyme patterns the optic vesicle during early eye development in the embryonic chick. Development, 127:4599-4609.

Levine, E. M., Fuhrmann, S., and Reh, T. A. (2000) Soluble factors and the development of rod photoreceptors.  Cell Mol Life Science, 57:224-234.

Fuhrmann, S., Chow, L., and Reh, T. A. (2000) Molecular control of cellular diversification in the vertebrate retina. Results Probl Cell Differ, 31:69-91.

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