department of developmental biology

Professor

Department of Developmental Biology
Neurosciences Program
Developmental Biology Program
Molecular Cell Biology Program

Research Interests

There are two major interests in this laboratory. The first is the study of the mechanisms involved in the expression and control of neuronal programmed cell death. The second is the study of the biology of three new neurotrophic factors (neurturin, persephin, and antemin)
that were discovered in a collaboration of this laboratory and that of Dr. Jeff Milbrandt in the department of Pathology. A variety of technical approaches are used including morphological, biochemical, immunological, pharmacological, and molecular genetic methodologies, applied both to in vitro and in vivo systems.

Johnson Biosketch

Training:

• B.S. in Pharmacy, 1966 University of Maryland
• Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, 1970 University of Maryland

Academic Positions:

• 1995-present, Co-Director, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
• 1994-present, Norman J. Stupp Professor, Department of Neurology
• 1983-present, Professor, Department of Molcular Biology and Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine
• 1978-1983, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine
• 1976-1978, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine
• 1973-1976, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Medical College of Pennsylvania
• 1970-1973, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine
• 1968-1969, Instructor in Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Maryland
  

Selected Publications

C.A. Harris, M. Deshmukh, B. Tsui-Pierchala, A.C. Maroney, and E.M. Johnson, Jr., "Inhibition of the JNK pathway by the MLK inhibitor CEP-1347(KT7515) preserves metabolism and growth of trophic factor deprived neurons," J. Neuroscience, 22, 103-113 (2002).

B. Tsui-Pierchala, J. Milbrandt, and E.M. Johnson, Jr., "NGF utilizes c-Ret via a novel GFL-independent, inter-RTK signaling mechanism to maintain the trophic status of mature sympathetic neurons," Neuron, 33, 261-273 (2002).

G.V. Putcha, C.A. Harris, K.L. Moulder, R.M. Easton, C.B. Thompson, and E.M. Johnson, Jr., "Intrinsic and extrinsic signaling during neuronal apoptosis: Lessons from the analysis of mutant mice," J. Cell Biol., 157, 441-453 (2002).

Y. Honma, T. Araki, S. Gianino, A. Bruce, R.O. Heukeroth, E.M. Johnson, Jr., and J. Milbrandt, "Artemin is a vascular-derived neurotrophic factor for developing sympathetic neurons," Neuron, 35, 267-282 (2002).

M. Deshmukh, C.Du, X.Wang, and E.M. Johnson, Jr., "Exogenous Smac induces competence and permits caspase activation in sympathetic neurons," J. Neurosci. 22, 8018-8027 (2002).

G.V. Putcha, S. Le, S. Frank, B. Chu, S. Alix, R.J. Youle, A. LaMarche, A.C. Maroney, and E.M. Johnson, Jr., "JNK-mediated BIM phosphorylation potentiates BAX-dependent apoptosis," Neuron, 38, 899-914 (2003).

C.G. Beserli and E.M. Johnson, Jr., "JNK-independent activation of c-Jun in DNA damage-induced neuronal apoptosis is mediated by a CDK-like activity," J. Biol. Chem., 278, 22357-22366 (2003).

L.K. Chang, R.E. Schmidt, and E.M. Johnson, Jr., "Alterating metabolic pathways in NGF-deprived sympathetic neurons affects caspase-independent death," J. Cell Biol., 162, 245-256 (2003).

Contact Information

Eugene M. Johnson, Jr.
Department of Developmental Biology
Washington University School of Medicine
Campus Box 8103
660 South Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 362-3926
emjohnson@msnotes.wustl.edu

Developmental Biology Program Website

http://molecool.wustl.edu/DevBiol/