Elizabeth (Welnhofer) Hogan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Telephone: (716)888-2552
Email: hogane@canisius.edu
I am interested in understanding the cellular mechanisms that govern the development and regeneration of the nervous system. The ability of a nerve cell to form a connection with the appropriate target cell is truly remarkable considering there are over 10 billion possible candidates and the target cells can be several meters from the nerve cell . To achieve this impressive feat, neurons extend processes, either axons or dendrites, with specialized motile structures at the distal terminal called growth cones (see image below). As the pathfinder of the nervous system, growth cones detect molecular cues in the extracellular environment and responds to them by advancing, retracting, or turning and thus direct the path of axon or dendrite outgrowth. Growth cones are not only crucial during the development of the nervous system, but also during regeneration of neuronal connections after injury
My current research focuses on the cellular mechanisms involved in growth cone formation and motility. Growth cones contain a dynamic cytoskeleton, composed of actin filaments (red in figure above), microtubules (green in figure above) , and motor proteins, organized to facilitate protrusive activity. Precisely how these cytoskeletal elements result in directed movement of growth cones and which signals control their organization and dynamics are fundamental to understanding how nerves form correct connections during development and regeneration.
Undergraduate researchers in my lab have contributed to the following research projects :
• Role of forked protein in formation of actin bundles in growth cones
• Role of myosin in mediating actin/MT interactions during neuritie retraction
• Effect of thimerosal on growth cone motility
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Publications:
Travis, JL, Welnhofer, EA, and Orokos, DD. 2003. Autonomous reorganization of Foraminiferan reticulopodia. J. Foraminferal Research. 32: 425-433
Cohan, C. Welnhofer, E.A., Zhao, L., Matsumura, F., and Shigeko, Y. 2001. Role of actin bundling protein fascin in growth cone morphogenesis: Localization in filopodia and lamellipodia. Cell Mot. Cytoskel. 48: 109-120.
