Gregory W. Konat

Ph.D./L.M. Degree: University of Odense, Denmark,1975

Current Title: Professor

Telephone: 304-293-2212

Fax: 304-293-8159

E-Mail Address: gkonat@wvu.edu

Research Interests

The broad long term goal of my research program is to elucidate cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying posttraumatic degeneration and regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS). Neuronal regeneration in the injured CNS is prevented by the presence of myelin, and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) has recently been identified as the major suppresser of axonal growth. The experimental strategy of this research is to identify and characterize molecular mechanisms that control transcriptional activity of the MAG gene in myelin-producing oligodendrogial cells. The aim is to gain experimental control of the gene status, that in turn, would provide for the development of gene therapy to promote neuronal regeneration in the CNS, e.g., in the injured spinal cord.

Another vein of research is aimed at mechanisms that lead to the destruction of neuronal axons in the injured CNS. The experimental strategy of this project is to determine the response of glial cells, i.e., astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia to various components of posttraumatic reaction within the CNS parenchyma. Stimulated glial cells may produce a host of cytotoxic agents, i.e., cytokines and reactive oxygen species that ultimately destroy the axons. The elucidation of these mechanisms will provide a foundation for developing therapeutic modalities to prevent axonal loss during the early stages after injury.

Recent Publications

Ye, P., Kanoh, M., Zhu, W., Laszkiewicz, I., Royland, J.E., Wiggins, R.C. and Konat, G. (1992) Cyclic AMP-induced upregulation of proteolipid protein and myelin associated glycoprotein gene expression in rat glioma C6 cells. J.Neurosci.Res. 31:578-583.

Zhu, W., Kanoh, M., Ye, P., Laszkiewicz, I., Royland, J., Wiggins, R.C. and Konat, G. (1992) Retinoic acid regulation of proteolipid protein and myelin associated glycoprotein gene expression in C6 glioma cells. J.Neurosci.Res. 31: 745-750.

Kanoh, M., Wiggins, R.C. and Konat, G. (1992) Differential upregulation of PLP and MAG genes in C6 glioma cells by N2A neuroblastoma conditioned medium. Met. Brain Disease 7:147-156.

Royland, J.E., Konat, G. and Wiggins, R.C. (1993) Myelin gene activation: A glucose sensitive critical period in development. J.Neurosci.Res. 36:399-404.

Zhu, W., Wiggins, R.C. and Konat, G. (1994) Glucocorticoid-induced upregulation of proteolipid protein and myelin-associated glycoprotein genes in C6 cells. J.Neurosci.Res. 37:208-212.

Ye, P., Laszkiewicz, I, Wiggins, R.C. and Konat, G.W. (1994) Transcriptional regulation of myelin associated glycoprotein gene expression by cyclic AMP. J.Neurosci.Res. 37:683-690.

Yassini, P.R., Wiggins, R.C. and Konat, G.W. (1994) Spatiotemporal expression of SCIP and myelin genes in rat brain during early postnatal development. Develop.Neurosci. 15:128-132.

Grubinska, B., Laszkiewicz, I., Royland, J.E., Wiggins, R.C. & Konat, G.W. (1994) Differentiation-specific demethylation of myelin associated glycoprotein gene in cultured oligodendrocytes. J.Neurosci.Res. 39:233-242.

Konat, G.W., Laszkiewicz, I., Grubinska, B. & Wiggins R.C. (1994) Generation of labeled DNA probes by PCR. In: PCR Technology: Current Innovations, H.G. Griffin and A.M. Griffin (eds.), CRC Press Inc., pp. 37-42.

Yassini, P.R., Stickler D.L., Bloomfield, S.M., Wiggins, R.C. and Konat, G.W. (1994) Glioma stimulated chemoatraction of endothelial cells and fibroblasts in vitro: A model for the study of glioma induced angiogenesis. Met.Brain Disease. 9:393-401.

Konat, G.W. (1996) Chromatin structure and transcriptional activity of MAG gene. In: CNS Myelinogenesis, K. Domanska-Janik (ed.), Acta Neurobiol. Exper. 56:281-285.

Gu, J., Royland, J.E., Wiggins, R.C. and Konat, G.W. (1996) Selenium is required for normal upregulation of myelin genes in differentiating oligodendrocytes. J. Neurosci. Res. (in press).

Laszkiewicz, I., Grubinska, B., Wiggins, R.C. and Konat, G. W. (1996) Myelin-associated glycoprotein gene: Characterization of core promoter region. (submitted).

Royland, J.E., Wiggins, R.C. & Konat, G. (1996) Hypoglycemia and expression of myelinogenic genes in differentiating oligodendrocytes in vitro. (manuscript in preparation).

This page created and maintained by Jeffrey Altemus

Revised November 29, 1996

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