James A. Hammarback, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota (1986)

Brain function is dependent on the shape of neuronal cells. We study microtubules, which are an ultrastructural determinate of neuron shape. Molecular methods are used to characterize functions served by two distinct but related microtubule associated proteins called MAP1A and MAP1B. Our significant findings include the identification of polyprotein precursors for MAP1A and MAP1B, the identification of requirements for proteolytic processing of the precursors, and the structural characterization of the microtubule binding regions of these large proteins. Ongoing studies focus on identifying the role of specific regions of MAP1A and MAP1B in axon formation.

Selected Publications:

X Mei, AJ Sweatt, and JA Hammarback (2001) Microtubule-associated protein 1 subunit expression in primary cultures of rat brain. Brain Res. Bull. 54:in press.

Mei, AJ Sweatt, and JA Hammarback (2000) Regulation of microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) subunit composition. J. Neurosci. Res. 62:56-64.

E-mail: jhammarb@wfubmc.edu