Barbara Conradt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Genetics
| Contact Information |
| Phone: 603-650-1210 |
| Fax: 603-650-1188 |
| Labphone: |
| Email Address: barbara.conradt@dartmouth.edu |
| Website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~genetics/Barbara/Conradt.html |
| Laboratory Website : http://www.dartmouth.edu/~genetics |
Postal Address |
| Dr. Barbara Conradt |
| Department of Genetics |
| Dartmouth Medical School |
| 7400 Remsen |
| Hanover NH 03755 |
Education |
| Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles - 1994 |
| University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 1987-1990 |
| University of Hohenheim, Hohenheim, Germany 1985-1987 |
Program Membership |
| Cancer Mechanisms Research Program |
Department Membership |
| Genetics |
Graduate Training Program Affiliation |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology |
Biography |
Selected Publications |
| Thellmann, M., Hatzold, J. and Conradt, B. 2003. The Snail-like CES-1 protein of C. elegans can block the expression of the BH3-only cell-death activator gene egl-1 by antagonizing the function of bHLH proteins. Development 130:4057-4071. |
| Jäger, S., Schwartz, H. T., Horvitz, H. R. and Conradt, B. (2004) The C. elegans F-box protein SEL-10 promotes female development and may act by targeting the proteins FEM-1 and FEM-3 for degradation by the proteasome. PNAS 101:12549-12554. |
| Schumacher, B., Schertel, C., Tuck, S., Mitani, S., Gartner, A. *, Conradt, B.* and Shaham, S*. (2005) C. elegans ced-13 can promote apoptosis and is induced in response to DNA damage. * Corresponding authors. Cell Death Differ 12:153-161. |
| Jagasia, R., Grote, P., Westermann, B. and Conradt, B. (2005) DRP-1-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation during EGL-1-induced cell death in C. elegans. Nature 433:754-760. (highlighted in Nature, Developmental Cell and Nature Reviews Molecular and Cellular Biology). |
| Grote, P. and Conradt, B. (2006) The PLZF-like protein TRA-4 co-operates with the Gli-like transcription factor TRA-1 to promote female development in C. elegans. Dev Cell 11:561-573. |
| Rolland, S. and Conradt, B. (2006) The role of mitochondria in apoptosis induction in Caenorhabditis elegans: more than just innocent bystanders? Cell Death Differ 13:1281-1286. |
| Conradt, B. (2006) Cell biology: Mitochondria shape up. Nature 443:646-647. |
| Schertel, C. and Conradt, B. (2007) C. elegans orthologues of components of the RB tumor suppressor complex have distinct pro-apoptotic functions. Development (in press). |
Research / Lab Interests |
| The Conradt group is interested in regulation and mechanisms of programmed cell death, especially as related to cancer. C. elegans EGL-1 is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl2 family of apoptosis regulators. Using genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches and the Hybridoma Shared Resource, we have discovered regulators of expression of egl-1. These pathways are conserved from worms to humans. Therefore, our long-term goal is to study the homologous pathways in mammals and to analyze their dysregulation in tumorigenesis. With support of NCCC developmental funds, we discovered a role for dynamin-related GTPases in apoptosis. Current work is aimed at dissecting the mechanisms by which this class of GTPases affects apoptotic processes. Bcl2 family members in C. elegans and mammals have complex functions in mitochondrial membrane dynamics that go beyond roles defined in apoptosis. Since Bcl2 proteins are key targets of novel cancer therapeutics, it is critical that we understand the non-apoptotic function of this class of proteins. Using genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches, our goal is to dissect the role in mitochondrial dynamics of C. elegans CED-9, the ortholog of the human proto-oncoprotein Bcl2. |
Grant s& Honors2004-2008 NIH GM069950: Analysis of cell death regulation in C. elegans
|
Invited Lectures2003 Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 2004 Keystone Symposium – Apoptosis in development, Keystone, CO 2005 NIH, National Institute of Neurological Disorders, Bethesda, MD 2006 Washington University, St. Louis, MO |
