SHERYL A. SCOTT
e-mail: Sheryl@neuro.utah.edu |
Professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy Developmental Neuroscience Molecular Neuroscience Cellular Neuroscience |
RESEARCH:
Development of sensory neurons
The research in my laboratory focuses on neuronal development, using chick hindlimb as a model system. A major project in my laboratory is aimed at elucidating the molecular nature of the cues that guide outgrowing sensory and motor neurons to their peripheral targets during embryonic development. In particular, we are investigating the role of Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligands, ephrins, in patterning axon outgrowth in the limb. In addition, we are investigating the developmental regulation of ETS transcription factors in sensory and motor neurons, and the role of these factors in the development of central connections between sensory and motor neurons. A third project is focused on retinoic acid signaling in the development of motor neurons and their target muscles. My laboratory employs a variety of techniques including embryonic surgery, cell culture, immunohistochemistry and molecular approaches to address these questions.
Selected Publications:
Wang, G.Y., and Scott, S.A. (2008) Retinoid signaling is involved in governing the waiting period for axons in chick hindlimb. Dev. Biol., 321:216-226.
Guan, W., Wang, G.Y., Scott, S.A., and Condic, M.L. (2008) Shh influences cell number and the distribution of neuronal subtypes in dorsal root ganglia. Dev. Biol., 314:317-328.
Wu, Y., Wang, G.Y., Scott, S.A., and Capecchi, M.R. (2008) Hoxc10 and d10 regulate mouse columnar, divisional and motor pool identity of lumbar motoneurons. Development, 135:171-182.
Wang, G.Y., and Scott, S.A. (2007) Onset of ETS expression is not accelerated by premature exposure to signals from limb mesenchyme. Dev Dyn., 236:2109-2117.
Munoz, L. M., Zayachkivsky, A., Kunz, R. B., Hunt, J. M. E., Wang, G. Y., and Scott, S. A. (2005) Ephrin-A5 inhibits growth of embryonic sensory neurons. Dev. Biol., 283:397-408.
Wang, G. Y., and Scott, S. A. (2004) An early broad competence of motoneurons to express ER81 is later sculpted by the periphery. J Neurosci., 24:9789-9798.
Wang, G. Y., and Scott, S. A. (2002) Development of "normal" dermatomes and somatotopic maps by "abnormal" populations of cutaneous neurons. Dev. Biol., 251:424-433.
Cahoon-Metzger, S. M, Wang, G. Y., and Scott, S. A. (2001) Contribution of BDNF-mediated inhibition in patterning avian skin innervation. Dev. Biol., 232:246-254.
Wang, G. Y., and Scott, S. A. (2000) The "waiting period" of sensory and motor axons in early chick hindlimb: Its role in axon pathfinding and neuronal maturation. J. Neurosci., 20:5358-5366.
