Download David Sherry Interests

David Sherry: (Ph.D., 1989, Neuroscience, University of Florida). Research in my lab focuses on
the cellular processes regulating neuronal and synaptic architecture, cell motility, navigation, and.
A major area of interest is the development and repair of synapses and circuits in central
nervous system. These studies utilize cell culture and the retina as experimental models primarily,
but we are working on establishing hippocampal and cortical preparations for these studies as well.
One project is focussed on the role of Reelin, an extracellular signaling protein, in regulating the
anatomical and synaptic architecture of the rod circuit in the retina (the rod circuit mediates highsensitivity night vision). A second project is directed at understanding the formation and
regeneration of the complex synaptic connections between photoreceptors, the cells in the retina
that are responsible for detecting light, and their target cells in the inner retina.
A second, rapidly developing area of interest in the lab is cell migration. We are pursuing
studies of growth factors and cytoskeletal elements as regulators of the transition of cells from
differentiated, quiescent phenotypes to migratory phenotypes and as regulators of the various
modes of migration (collective or directional migration vs. random migration by individual cells).
These studies also encompass related cellular behaviors including navigation, adhesion, signaling,
trafficking, and proliferation. Specific projects focus on the transition of smooth muscle cells from a
normally differentiated and quiescent phenotype to a migratory phenotype, such as occurs during
normal or pathological angiogenesis. A second developing project in this area is the role of the
microtubule cytoskeleton in regulating neuronal migration, guidance of neuronal processes to their
targets and the formation of synapses.
Technical approaches employed in the lab integrate anatomical, pharmacological and molecular
means to manipulate and visualize signaling processes, cytoskeletal dynamics and cell behavior.
Approaches include shRNA and pharmacological treatments to manipulate expression or activity of
specific proteins, fluorescently labeled proteins and biosensors, live cell imaging to directly
visualize cellular behaviors. These approaches are complemented by microscopy and
immunolabeling at the light, confocal and electron microscopic levels.