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Thomas Jessell
Thomas Jessell
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics


Address: 701 West 168th Street Room 1013 New York NY 10032
Phone: 212-305-1531
Fax: 212-568-8473
E-mail:

 tmj1@columbia.edu
Education and Training:
Affiliations:
 bullet  Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
bullet  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
bullet  Jerome L. Green Science Center
bullet  Center for Neurobiology and Behavior
bullet  Columbia Motor Neuron Center
bullet  Center for Neuroscience Intitiatives
Training Activities:
 bullet  Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
bullet  Department of Genetics and Development
Research Summary:
 (800 words, max)
 Molecular mechanisms of neuronal differentiation, axon guidance, and cell recognition in vertebrate development.
Current Research:
 Studies in the lab are aimed at defining the molecular mechanisms that control the early development of the vertebrate nervous system. Our work focuses on two primary issues. 1. What are the strategies and molecules used to specify the identity of the multiple and functionally diverse cell types generated in the embryonic central nervous system? 2. How do individual subclasses of neurons project their axons along specific pathways and form selective connections with target cells? Both issues are being addressed in the context of the developing spinal cord, the simplest and best understood subdivision of the central nervous system. Our recent studies have used mouse molecular genetics and cell biology to identify secreted signaling molecules and transcription factors that control the fate of neural cells and proteins that act as environmental ligands and cell surface receptors used in the guidance of axons.
Publications:
(6 max)
 1. Nagai M, Re DB, Nagata T, Chalazonitis A, Jessell TM, Wichterle H, Przedborski S.: (2007) Astrocytes expressing ALS-linked mutated SOD1 release factors selectively toxic to motor neurons.  Nat Neurosci  10: 615-622

2. Yoshida Y, Han B, Mendelsohn M, Jessell TM.: (2006) PlexinA1 signaling directs the segregation of proprioceptive sensory axons in the developing spinal cord.  Neuron  52: 775-788

3. Nordstrom U, Maier E, Jessell TM, Edlund T.: (2006) An early role for WNT signaling in specifying neural patterns of Cdx and Hox gene expression and motor neuron subtype identity.  PLoS Biol  4: e252

4. Patel SD, Ciatto C, Chen CP, Bahna F, Rajebhosale M, Arkus N, Schieren I, Jessell TM, Honig B, Price SR, Shapiro L.: (2006) Type II cadherin ectodomain structures: implications for classical cadherin specificity.  Cell  124: 1255-68

5. Chen AI, de Nooij JC, Jessell TM.: (2006) Graded activity of transcription factor Runx3 specifies the laminar termination pattern of sensory axons in the developing spinal cord.  Neuron  49: 395-408

6. Kramer I, Sigrist M, de Nooij JC, Taniuchi I, Jessell TM, Arber S.: (2006) A role for Runx transcription factor signaling in dorsal root ganglion sensory neuron diversification.  Neuron  49(3): 379-393

URL for lab page:
  http://sklad.cumc.columbia.edu/jessell/

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