ZFIN ID: ZDB-LAB-060630-1
Downes lab
PI/Director: Downes, Gerald
Contact Person: Downes, Gerald
Email: gbdownes@bio.umass.edu
URL: http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/faculty/gbdownes.phtml
Address: University of Massachusetts - Amherst 427 Morrill Building 2 (611 North Pleasant Street) Amherst, MA 01003 USA
Country: United States
Phone: 413-545-1266
Fax: 413-545-3243
Line Designation: umz


GENOMIC FEATURES ORIGINATING FROM THIS LAB
Show all 3 genomic features


STATEMENT OF RESEARCH INTERESTS
Development and function of spinal cord networks

Groups of neurons within the spinal cord coordinate the precise movements of locomotive behavior, such as walking or swimming. Our laboratory is interested in the development, organization, and function of these neuronal networks and we use the zebrafish embryo as our model system. The zebrafish embryo has several characteristics that make it particularly well-suited to study spinal cord networks. The embryos demonstrate robust swimming behavior, their spinal cords are relatively simple compared to mammalian spinal cords, the embryos are transparent so spinal cord development can be easily observed, and a large array of genetic resources are available. These features allow us to take an integrated genetic, molecular, cellular, and behavioral approach to study the spinal cord networks that orchestrate locomotive behavior. Since spinal cord organization is broadly conserved among vertebrates, our work holds promise to provide insight into mammalian spinal cords.


LAB MEMBERS
Friedrich, Timo


ZEBRAFISH PUBLICATIONS OF LAB MEMBERS
Kulick, D., Moon, E., Riffe, R.M., Teicher, G., Van Deursen, S., Berson, A., He, W., Aaron, G., Downes, G.B., Devoto, S., O'Neil, A. (2022) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Associated Persistent Organic Pollutant cis-Chlordane Causes GABAA-Independent Toxicity to Motor Neurons, Providing Evidence toward an Environmental Component of Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. ACS Chemical Neuroscience. 13(24):3567-3577
Barnaby, W., Dorman Barclay, H.E., Nagarkar, A., Perkins, M., Teicher, G., Trapani, J.G., Downes, G.B. (2022) GABAA α Subunit Control of Hyperactive Behavior in Developing Zebrafish. Genetics. 220(4):
Sant, K.E., Annunziato, K., Conlin, S., Teicher, G., Chen, P., Venezia, O., Downes, G.B., Park, Y., Timme-Laragy, A.R. (2021) Developmental exposures to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) impact embryonic nutrition, pancreatic morphology, and adiposity in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987). 275:116644
Yildiz, O., Downes, G.B., Sagerström, C.G. (2019) Zebrafish prdm12b acts independently of nkx6.1 repression to promote eng1b expression in the neural tube p1 domain. Neural Development. 14:5
Friedrich, T., Douek, A.M., Vandestadt, C., Wlodkowic, D., Kaslin, J. (2018) A Modular Millifluidic Homeostatic Imaging Plate for Imaging of Larval Zebrafish. Zebrafish. 16(1):37-46
Monesson-Olson, B., McClain, J.J., Case, A.E., Dorman, H.E., Turkewitz, D.R., Steiner, A.B., Downes, G.B. (2018) Expression of the eight GABAA receptor α subunits in the developing zebrafish central nervous system. PLoS One. 13:e0196083
Mott, M., Luna, V.M., Park, J.Y., Downes, G.B., Epley, K., Ono, F. (2017) Expressing acetylcholine receptors after innervation suppresses spontaneous vesicle release and causes muscle fatigue. Scientific Reports. 7:1674
Johnson, K., Barragan, J., Bashiruddin, S., Smith, C.J., Tyrrell, C., Parsons, M.J., Doris, R., Kucenas, S., Downes, G.B., Velez, C.M., Schneider, C., Sakai, C., Pathak, N., Anderson, K., Stein, R., Devoto, S.H., Mumm, J.S., Barresi, M.J. (2016) Gfap-positive radial glial cells are an essential progenitor population for later-born neurons and glia in the zebrafish spinal cord. Glia. 64(7):1170-89
Zhu, F., Wigh, A., Friedrich, T., Devaux, A., Bony, S., Nugegoda, D., Kaslin, J., Wlodkowic, D. (2015) Automated Lab-on-a-Chip Technology for Fish Embryo Toxicity Tests Performed under Continuous Microperfusion (μFET). Environmental science & technology. 49(24):14570-8
Zhu, F., Skommer, J., Macdonald, N.P., Friedrich, T., Kaslin, J., Wlodkowic, D. (2015) Three-dimensional printed millifluidic devices for zebrafish embryo tests. Biomicrofluidics. 9:046502
Zannino, D.A., Downes, G.B., Sagerström, C.G. (2014) prdm12b specifies the p1 progenitor domain and reveals a role for V1 interneurons in swim movements. Developmental Biology. 390:247-60
de Soysa, T.Y., Ulrich, A., Friedrich, T., Pite, D., Compton, S.L., Ok, D., Bernardos, R.L., Downes, G.B., Hsieh, S., Stein, R., Lagdameo, M.C., Halvorsen, K., Kesich, L.R., and Barresi, M.J. (2012) Macondo crude oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disrupts specific developmental processes during zebrafish embryogenesis. BMC Biology. 10(1):40
Friedrich, T., Lambert, A.M., Masino, M.A., and Downes, G.B. (2012) Mutation of zebrafish dihydrolipoamide branched-chain transacylase E2 results in motor dysfunction and models maple syrup urine disease. Disease models & mechanisms. 5(2):248-258
Khan, T.M., Benaich, N., Malone, C.F., Bernardos, R.L., Russell, A.R., Downes, G.B., Barresi, M.J., and Hutson, L.D. (2012) Vincristine and bortezomib cause axon outgrowth and behavioral defects in larval zebrafish. Journal of the peripheral nervous system : JPNS. 17(1):76-89
McKeown, K.A., Moreno, R., Hall, V.L., Ribera, A.B., and Downes, G.B. (2012) Disruption of Eaat2b, a glutamate transporter, results in abnormal motor behaviors in developing zebrafish. Developmental Biology. 362(2):162-171
Olson, B.D., Sgourdou, P., and Downes, G.B. (2010) Analysis of a zebrafish behavioral mutant reveals a dominant mutation in atp2a1/SERCA1. Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000). 48(6):354-361
McKeown, K.A., Downes, G.B., and Hutson, L.D. (2009) Modular laboratory exercises to analyze the development of zebrafish motor behavior. Zebrafish. 6(2):179-185
Downes, G.B., and Granato, M. (2006) Supraspinal input is dispensable to generate glycine-mediated locomotive behaviors in the zebrafish embryo. Journal of neurobiology. 66(5):437-451
Hirata, H., Saint-Amant, L., Downes, G.B., Cui, W.W., Zhou, W., Granato, M., and Kuwada, J.Y. (2005) Zebrafish bandoneon mutants display behavioral defects due to a mutation in the glycine receptor β-subunit. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 102(23):8345-8350
Downes, G.B., and Granato, M. (2004) Acetylcholinesterase function is dispensable for sensory neurite growth but is critical for neuromuscular synapse stability. Developmental Biology. 270(1):232-245
Downes, G.B., Waterbury, J.A., and Granato, M. (2002) Rapid in vivo labeling of identified zebrafish neurons. Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000). 34(3):196-202
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