Craig Garner, Ph.D.--Molecular Neurobiology

Research Description:

My research interests are in molecular neurobiology. I am concerned with understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie neuronal polarity and the assembly of such membrane specializations as synapses. We are currently investigating two aspects of synapses. The first involves the identification and characterization of proteins that are required to assembly synapses. The second is concerned with understanding the role of dendritically localized RNAs to the plasticity of synapses.

In the first of these studies, we have utilized both molecular biological and immunological techniques to isolate cDNA's encoding proteins associated with synapses. Four groups of proteins have been identified: cytoskeletal proteins, cell adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules, ion channels and molecules involved in signal transduction. Much of our effort has focused on molecules belonging to the last group which are involved in regulating the assembly of the cytoskeleton associated with the synaptic junctions.

Biography:

2000-Present.  Professor, Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

1993-2000. Associate Professor, Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

1993-Present. Scientist, Neurobiology Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham

1988-93. Research Group Leader, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University of Hamburg, Germany

1985-88. Research Associate, Friedrich Miescher Institute, Basel, Switzerland.