# overview
My lab studies inner ear development in zebrafish. A prominent feature of our research is to investigate how cell-cell signaling and downstream gene-interactions control development.  One project in the lab focuses on how cell signaling regulates ectodermal patterning during gastrulation to establish the otic placode, the precursor of the inner ear.  Our recent work shows that localized Fgf signaling is especially critical for inducing formation of the otic placode, and members of the Pax2/5/8 family of transcription factors are important mediators of Fgf signaling.  During later stages of inner ear development, we are exploring how sensory hair cells and neurons are regulated.  Our studies address how these cells initially form, how they are genetically maintained, and how they become specialized for hearing vs. balance.  We are also investigating how zebrafish can replace dead and damaged hair cells, an ability that mammals have lost.  The inability to regenerate hair cells explains why humans show progressive irreversible hearing loss as we age.  It is hoped that activating or augmenting human homologs of genes shown to operate in zebrafish might help restore hearing and balance in humans.

# keywords[]
Intercellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

# keywords[]
Intracellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

# keywords[]
Intracellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

# keywords[]
Intercellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

# keywords[]
Intracellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

# keywords[]
Intracellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
University of Utah - (Salt Lake City, Utah, United States)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
University of Wisconsin - Madison - (Madison, Wisconsin, United States)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
University of Wisconsin - Madison - (Madison, Wisconsin, United States)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
University of Colorado Boulder - (Boulder, Colorado, United States)

# publications[].label
Zebrafish pax5 regulates development of the utricular macula and vestibular function.

# publications[].label
The Warburg Effect and lactate signaling augment Fgf signaling to promote sensory-neural development in the otic vesicle

# publications[].label
Genes controlling the development of the zebrafish inner ear and hair cells.

# publications[].label
Conditions that elevate intracellular cyclic AMP levels promote spore formation in Dictyostelium.

# publications[].label
Sox2 and Fgf interact with Atoh1 to promote sensory competence throughout the zebrafish inner ear.

# publications[].label
Foxi transcription factors promote pharyngeal arch development by regulating formation of FGF signaling centers.

# publications[].label
Induction and morphogenesis of the inner ear

# publications[].label
Mesodermal Fgf10b cooperates with other fibroblast growth factors during induction of otic and epibranchial placodes in zebrafish.

# publications[].label
Genetic specification and neural refinement of vestibular function in the zebrafish inner ear.

# publications[].label
Pax2a, Sp5a and Sp5l act downstream of Fgf and Wnt to coordinate sensory-neural patterning in the inner ear.

# publications[].label
Conditions that alter intracellular cAMP levels affect expression of the cAMP phosphodiesterase gene in Dictyostelium.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
Genetic analysis of tissue interactions required for otic placode induction in the zebrafish.

# publications[].label
Mesendodermal signals required for otic induction: Bmp-antagonists cooperate with Fgf and can facilitate formation of ectopic otic tissue.

# publications[].label
Comparative assessment of Fgf's diverse roles in inner ear development: A zebrafish perspective.

# publications[].label
sox2 and sox3 cooperate to regulate otic/epibranchial placode induction in zebrafish.

# publications[].label
Zebrafish msxB, msxC and msxE function together to refine the neural-nonneural border and regulate cranial placodes and neural crest development.

# publications[].label
Conditions that influence the response to Fgf during otic placode induction.

# publications[].label
Early Patterning in the Zebrafish Inner Ear

# publications[].label
A gene network that coordinates preplacodal competence and neural crest specification in zebrafish.

# publications[].label
Zebrafish fgf3 and fgf8 encode redundant functions required for otic placode induction.

# publications[].label
Identification of early requirements for preplacodal ectoderm and sensory organ development.

# publications[].label
Delta-mediated specification of midline cell fates in zebrafish embryos.

# publications[].label
Spemann organizer gene Goosecoid promotes delamination of neuroblasts from the otic vesicle.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
Reassessing Bmp's role in early development of cranial placodes

# publications[].label
A method for ectopic expression of foreign genes in the chicken limb in vivo.

# publications[].label
The Warburg Effect and lactate signaling augment Fgf-MAPK to promote sensory-neural development in the otic vesicle.

# publications[].label
Otoc1: a novel otoconin-90 ortholog required for otolith mineralization in zebrafish.

# publications[].label
Foxm1 promotes differentiation of neural progenitors in the zebrafish inner ear.

# publications[].label
Ammonia promotes accumulation of intracellular cAMP in differentiating amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum.

# publications[].label
Apcdd1 is a dual BMP/Wnt inhibitor in the developing nervous system and skin.

# publications[].label
Characterization of harpy/Rca1/emi1 mutants: patterning in the absence of cell division.

# publications[].label
A mutation in zebrafish affecting a localized cellular function required for normal ear development.

# publications[].label
sox2 and sox3 Play unique roles in development of hair cells and neurons in the zebrafish inner ear.

# publications[].label
Pax2/8 proteins coordinate sequential induction of otic and epibranchial placodes through differential regulation of foxi1, sox3 and fgf24.

# publications[].label
Rhombomere boundaries are Wnt signaling centers that regulate metameric patterning in the zebrafish hindbrain.

# publications[].label
Role of muscle segment homeobox-B (msxB) in zebrafish neural development

# publications[].label
Role of FGFs in skeletal muscle and limb development.

# publications[].label
An expanded domain of fgf3 expression in the hindbrain of zebrafish valentino mutants results in mis-patterning of the otic vesicle.

# publications[].label
Evidence for expression of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) in novel neural and ovarian locations in teleost fish

# publications[].label
A spatial and temporal gradient of Fgf differentially regulates distinct stages of neural development in the zebrafish inner ear.

# publications[].label
Development of utricular otoliths, but not saccular otoliths, is necessary for vestibular function and survival in zebrafish.

# publications[].label
Pax2a, Pax5 and Cdh1--catenin, but not Wnt, protect sensory hair cells from destabilizing effects of fgf signaling on cell adhesion.

# publications[].label
Tfap2a promotes specification and maturation of neurons in the inner ear through modulation of Bmp, Fgf and notch signaling.

# publications[].label
Inhibitors of intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation affect differentiation of sporogenous mutants of Dictyostelium discoideum

# publications[].label
Retroviral expression of FGF-2 (bFGF) affects patterning in chick limb bud.

# publications[].label
Pax2/8 proteins coordinate sequential induction of otic and epibranchial placodes through differential regulation of foxil, sox3 and fgf24 (vol 251, pg 90, 2011)

# publications[].label
A critical period of ear development controlled by distinct populations of ciliated cells in the zebrafish.

# publications[].label
Sox2 is required for maintenance and regeneration, but not initial development, of hair cells in the zebrafish inner ear.

# publications[].label
Zebrafish atoh1 genes: classic proneural activity in the inner ear and regulation by Fgf and Notch.

# publications[].label
Fgf, Hh, and pax2a differentially regulate expression of pax5 and pou3f3b in vestibular and auditory maculae in the zebrafish otic vesicle.

# publications[].label
Zebrafish pax8 is required for otic placode induction and plays a redundant role with Pax2 genes in the maintenance of the otic placode.

# publications[].label
A signaling network required to maintain rhombomere boundaries as organizing centers in the zebrafish hindbrain.

# publications[].label
Ringing in the new ear: resolution of cell interactions in otic development.

# publications[].label
A direct role for Fgf but not Wnt in otic placode induction.

# publications[].label
Distribution of FGF-2 suggests it has a role in chick limb bud growth.

# publications[].label
Integrin-5 coordinates assembly of posterior cranial placodes in zebrafish and enhances Fgf-dependent regulation of otic/epibranchial cells.

# publications[].label
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) endomembrane antiporter similar to a yeast cation/H(+) transporter is required for neural crest development.

# publications[].label
The deltaA gene of zebrafish mediates lateral inhibition of hair cells in the inner ear and is regulated by pax2.1.

# publications[].label
Efficient induction of point mutations allowing recovery of specific locus mutations in zebrafish.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# researcherOn[].label
Genetic Analysis of Inner Ear Development in Zebrafish

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

# streetAddress
Texas A&M University; Biology; 3258 TAMU

# etdChairOf[].label
Kantarci, Husniye (2017-08). Reverse and Forward Genetics Approaches Reveal the Gene Networks That Regulate Development of Inner Ear Neurons. Doctoral Dissertation.