Faculty

John Bixby, Ph.D.

Bixby Lab Web Page

Neural Development

Curriculum Vitae

AB Cornell University 1975
Ph.D. Caltech 1980
Postdoctorate: Neurobiology (with NC Spitzer) UCSD 1980-83
Postdoctorate Neurobiology (with LF Reichardt) UCSF 1983-86
Research Assistant Professor, HHMI, UCSF 1986-88
Assistant Professor at UM 1988-93
Associate Professor at UM 1993-97
Professor at UM 1997-present
Director, UM Neuroscience Center, 2001-present
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies 2007-present

Research Interests

Our lab is trying to achieve a molecular understanding of the ways in which specific neural connections are formed and maintained. To this end, we have studied two aspects of nerve cell differentiation: axon growth and synapse formation. Recently, we have focused on two major topics. First, we have studied the regulation of axon growth and guidance by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). These proteins help to control the signaling state of a large variety of other proteins inside the cell, and thus are part of a master regulatory system. Many PTPs are transmembrane proteins with large extracellular domains like those of signaling receptors; these "receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases" (RPTPs) seem particularly important for axon growth and guidance. Our studies concern ligand/receptor interactions, signal transduction mechanisms, and biological functions of these RPTPs.

In our new lab, we are working hardest on projects related specifically to regeneration of connections after injury. Major projects include the identification and regulation of inhibitory signaling mechanisms in the injured CNS, and the study of neuronal genes required for axonal regeneration

Major Research Projects

A description of our current research projects can be found on the laboratory web page: http://www.jbixbylab.com

The Lemmon/Bixby Lab: February 2005

More Photos: Neuroscience Program Retreat 2002

Recent Publications

Bixby, J.L., Baerwald, K.L., Wang, C., Rathjen, F.G., and Ruegg, M.A. (2002). A neuronal inhibitory domain in the N-terminal half of agrin, J. Neurobiol. 50: 164-179.

Chen, B., Perron, J., Hammonds-Odie, L., Masters, B., and Bixby, J.L. (2002). SHP-2 mediates target-controlled axonal branching and NGF-dependent neurite growth in sympathetic neurons. Dev. Biol. 252: 170-187.

Beltran, P.J., and Bixby, J.L. (2003). Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases as mediators of cellular adhesion. Frontiers in Bioscience 8: d87-99.

Beltran, P.J., Bixby, J.L., and Masters, B.A. (2003). Expression of PTPRO during mouse development suggests involvement in axonogenesis and in differentiation of NT-3 and NGF-dependent neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 456: 384-395.

Baerwald de la Torre, K., Winzen, U., Halfter, W., and Bixby, J.L. (2004). Glycosaminoglycan-dependent and -independent inhibition of neurite outgrowth by agrin. J. Neurochem. 90: 50-61.

Ernsberger, U., Esposito, L., Partimo, S., Huber, K., Franke, A., Bixby, J.L., Kalcheim, C., and Unsicker, K. (2005). Expression of neuronal markers suggests heterogeneity of chick sympathoadrenal cells prior to invasion of the adrenal anlagen. Cell & Tissue Research 319: 1-13.

Chen, B., and Bixby, J.L. (2005). NPCD (neuronal pentraxin with chromo domain) is a novel class of protein expressed in multiple neuronal domains. J. Comp. Neurol. 481: 391-402.

Chen, B., and Bixby, J.L. (2005). A novel substrate of receptor tyrosine phosphatase PTPRO is required for NGF-induced process outgrowth. J. Neuroscience 25:880-888.

Dimitropoulou, A., and Bixby, J.L. (2005). Motor neurite outgrowth is selectively inhibited by cell surface MuSK and agrin. Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience 28: 292-302.

Stepanek, L., Stoker, A.W., Stoeckli, E., and Bixby, J.L. (2005). Receptor tyrosine phosphatases guide vertebrate motor axons during development. J. Neuroscience 25: 3813 - 23.

Buchser WJ, Pardinas JR, Shi Y, Bixby JL, Lemmon V. (2006). Efficient and inexpensive 96-well electroporation method for transfection of mammalian central neurons. BioTechniques 41:619-24.

Gonzalez-Brito, M., and Bixby, J.L. (2006). Differential activities in adhesion and neurite growth of fibronectin type III repeats in the PTP- d extracellular domain. Intl. J. Dev. Neurosci. 24(7):425-9.