Seema Agarwala

Agarwala, Seema
Associate Professor in Neurobiology

E-mail: agarwala@mail.utexas.edu

Website: http://www.utexas.edu/neuroscience/Neurobiology/SeemaAgarwala/index.html

Main Office: PAT 405
Phone: 232-4797

Alternate Office: PAT 410
Phone: 232-4890

Mailing Address:
The University of Texas at Austin
Section of Neurobiolgy
1 University Station CO920
Austin, TX 78712-1095

Graduate Students:

  • Bayly, Rob (Robbie)
  • Eom, Dae Soek
  • Fogel, Jennifer

    • Research Summary:
       During embryogenesis, neurons learn of their cell-fates and are assigned to specific brain nuclei (nucleogenesis), which organize brain connectivity and function. Little is known about how such complex patterning is achieved during vertebrate development. We study these processes in the mouse and chick midbrain, where clinically important nuclei such as the oculomotor complex (involved in eye movements) and midbrain dopaminergic neurons (involved in Parkinson's disease and addictive behaviors) reside. I have previously shown that the signaling molecule, Sonic Hedgehog, is sufficient to specify the entire ventral midbrain (organogenesis). We are now examining the downstream transcriptional mechanisms that allow this single molecule to specify multiple cell and nuclear fates. Experimental approaches include in vivo gene misexpression by electroporation (in chick and mouse), protein misexpression using coated-beads, and gene silencing by novel strategies such as RNA interference and morpholino oligonucleotides and microarray analyses. Manipulations in the chick are complemented with gene expression analyses of mutant chicks and mice with defects in midbrain patterning.
     
    Research Images:

    - In vivo RNA intereference in a chick midbrain. The left side of the brain is the control. Rnai constructs targeted against gli2 (blue) reduce its expression and expand a FOXA2 (brown) as a result.

    In vitro gene misexpression in mice - Misexpression of GFP in a mouse embryo (top) followed by an emergence of embryonic midbrain pattern after 2 days in vitro. Agarwala Laboratory

     
    Publications:
    Gene expression analysis of the hedgehog signaling cascade in the chick midbrain and spinal cord (2007) Dev Dynamics 236, 1363-1373.
    Regulation of Ventral Midbrain Patterning by Hedgehog Signaling (2007) Development 134, 2115-2124.
    Differential susceptibility of midbrain and spinal cord patterning to disruptions of floor plate in the talpid 2 mutant. (2005) Developmental Biology 288, 206-220.
    A role for midbrain arcs in nucleogenesis. (2002) Development 129, 5779-5788.
    Sonic Hedgehog control of size, shape and position in midbrain pattern formation. (2001) Science 291, 2147-2149..

     
    Search PubMed for more publications by Prof. Name
    (a new browser window will open)
    "Caution, this search may require more information to be accurate or specific. Check authors and institution carefully."

    Max Docs:  Pub. Date limit: