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Bio:
Molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating neuronal and glial cell function in the central nervous system
Dr. Campagnoni's research covers three areas:
1. Exploring the roles of a novel Myelin Basic Protein sequence-containing gene in neural development in process extension and migration. In the past year Campagnoni and colleagues have continued their studies on a novel gene, which they call the Golli gene, that overlaps and includes the myelin basic protein gene. Campagnoni's team have been actively pursuing the function of the protein products of this gene. Campagnoni's laboratory have completed an extensive series of studies to determine where and when the protein products are expressed, and have found that they are expressed in neurons and in oligodendrocytes in mice and in humans. Golli proteins are expressed in pioneering neurons in the developing nervous system and Campagnoni believes that they are involved in process extension and neuronal migration early in development. Campagnoni and colleagues have produced several "immortalized" mouse cell lines in which these Golli proteins are synthesized and they appear to be associated with the cytoskeleton. Under certain conditions, in vivo and in vitro, the Golli proteins are found to be transported into the nuclei of some neurons, where Campagnoni believes they have a second role, possibly in regulating gene expression.
2. Autoimmune implications of a Myelin Basic Protein sequence-containing gene expression in the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes. Studies on the expression of the Golli products have opened up a new research area for the laboratory. Campagnoni's team find that Golli proteins (which contain myelin basic protein sequences) are expressed in the thymus, spleen and lymph nodes of the immune system. This prompted them to search for the expression of other myelin protein antigens in these immune tissues and have found that the myelin proteolipid proteins are also expressed in human t
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