Gary
Dean
, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
B.A. 1975 , UC Santa Cruz, Department of Chemistry and Biology , Santa Cruz , CA
Ph.D. 1983 , Yale University
There are three overlapping projects in our laboratory. These are investigations of
(1) the structure-function relationships of the subunits in the proton-pumping vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase):
(2) the structures and mechanisms involved in the biogenesis and functions of
(a) acidic secretory vesicles, with special emphasis on the V-ATPase, synaptotagmin, and the biogenic amine transporter, and (b) the phagosomal compartments within which certain intracellular pathogens (e.g., M. tuberculosis, H. capsulatum) thrive, and
(3) the structure and biogenesis of Alzheimer's disease paired helical filaments.
We have recently adapted the V-ATPase structure project to serve as the focus of an educational system (YMET, for "Yeast Mutants as an Educational Tool"; by which molecular biology and genetics are conveniently taught to children at the same time that they isolate useful V-ATPase mutants.
Selected Publications:
- (1999) Regulation of the vacuolar ATPase and phagosomelysosome fusion by Histoplasma capsulatum. J. Immunology 162(10):6148-6154
- (1999) A PC12 variant lacking regulated secretory organelles: aberrant protein targeting and evidence for a factor inhibiting neuroendocrine gene expression. J. Neurochem, 73(1):21-30
- (1997) Identification of microtubule-associated protein tau isoforms present in Alzheimer's paired helical filaments. Brain Research Bulletin 43(5):501-8
- (1996) Resorption-cycle dependent polarization of mRNAs for different subunits of V-ATPase in bone resorbing osteoclasts. Mol.Biol.Cell. 7(1):129 - 142
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