MOLECULAR DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY

Koblar Laboratory - CMGD Adelaide Telephone: +61 8 8303 4336 Facsimile: + 61 8 8303 7534 Email: simon.koblar@adelaide.edu.au

Research Focus

The Koblar laboratory's major interest is in developmental neurobiology. Our broad focus is to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the assembly of the nervous system and how lessons learnt from this may give rise to novel strategies of brain repair in stroke.

Currently, there are two major research projects undertaken in the laboratory. First, are the molecular and cellular investigations into the basic biology of adult mammalian stem cells and how this may relate to neural tissue engineering. Two adult stem cells populations are studied: (1) Neural stem cells from adult rodent brain and (2) dental pulp stem cells from human teeth. Second, is the study of Nxf, a transcription factor of the bHLH-PAS family, and its potential role in neurogenesis. Our laboratory discovered this novel gene in 2004.

Recent publications

Koblar Lab - June 2006

Collaborators & Linkages

• Dr Stan Gronthos, Dept Haematology, IMVS, Adelaide, SA
• A/Prof Murray Whitelaw, University of Adelaide, SA
• Dr Stephen Minger, Wolfson Centre for Age Related Diseases, London, UK.
• Prof Pat Doherty, Wolfson Centre for Age Related Diseases, London, UK.
• ARC/NHMRC Research Network in Genes and Environment in Development (NGED)
  
  

Publications (since 2000)

Stokowski, A., Shi, S., Sun, T., Bartold, P.M., Koblar, S.A., Gronthos, S.(2007) EphB/Ephrin-B Interaction Mediates Adult Stem Cell Attachment, Spreading, and Migration: Implications for Dental Tissue Repair. Stem Cells. 2007 Jan;25 (1):156-64.

Milton, A.G., Jannes, J., Hamilton-Bruce, M.A., Koblar, S.A. (2006) Activating mutation of the renal epithelial chloride channel CIC-Kb predisposing to hypertension. Hypertension 47 e12-3.

Armstrong CA, Bevan SN, Gormely KT, Marcus HS, Koblar SA (2006). Tissue plasminogen activator - 7351C/T polymorphism and lacunar stroke. Stroke 37(2):329.

Jayasena, C.S, Flood, W.D., Koblar, S.A. (2005) High EphA3 expressing ophtalmic trigeminal sensory axons are sensitive to ephrin-A5-Fc: implications for lobe specific axon guidance. Neuroscience 135: 97-109

Cai, Z., Blumbergs, P.C., Koblar, S.A., Cash, K., Manavis, J., Ghabriel, M.N., Thompson, P.D. (2004) Peripheral nervous system and central nervous system pathology in rapidly progressive lower motor neuron syndrome with immunoglobulin M anti-GM1 ganglioside antibody. Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System 9: 79-91

Jannes, J., Hamilton-Bruce, M.A., Pilotto, L., Smith, B.J., Mullighan C.G., Bardy P.G., Koblar, S.A. (2004) Tissue plasminogen activator - 7351C/T enhancer polymorphism is a risk factor for lacunar stroke. Stroke 35: 1090-4

Eberhart J., Swartz M.E., Koblar S.A., Pasquale E.B., Krull C.E. (2002). EphA4 constitutes a population-specific guidance cue for motor neurons. Developmental Biology 247: 89-101

Varelias A, Koblar SA, Cowled PA, Carter CD, Clayer M. (2002). Human osteosarcoma expresses specific ephrin profiles: implications for tumorigenicity and prognosis. Cancer 95:862-9

Coulthard, M.G., Lickliter, J.D., Subanesan, N., Chen, K., Webb, G.C., Lowry, A.J., Koblar, S.A., Bottema, C.D.K., Boyd, A.W. (2001) Characterization of the EphA1 receptor tyrosine kinase: expression in epithelial tissues. Growth Factors 18(4):303-317

Krull, C.E., Koblar, S.A. (2000) Motor axon pathfinding in the peripheral nervous system. Brain Research Bulletin 53:479-487

Eberhart, J., Swartz, M., Koblar, S.A., Pasquale, E.B., Krull, C.E. (2000) Expression of EphA4, Ephrin-A2 and Ephrin-A5 during Axon Outgrowth to the Hindlimb Indicates Potential Roles in Pathfinding. Developmental Neuroscience 22:237-250.

Karam, S.D., Burrows, R.C., Logan, C., Koblar, S.A., Pasquale, E.B., Bothwell, M. (2000), Ephs and ephrins in the developing chick cerebellum: relationship to sagittal patterning and granule cell migration. Journal of Neuroscience 20(17):6488-6500.

Koblar, S.A., Krull, C.E., Pasquale, E.B., Peale, F.D., Cerretti, D.P., Bothwell, M. (2000), Ephrin-B1/EphB2 interactions alone do not pattern spinal motor axon segmentation in the chick. Journal of Neurobiology 42:437-447. (N.B.: Fig. 3 was selected as cover photograph for this Volume 4, Issue 4, 2000)