Ralf Adams

Genetics and cell biology of tissue and blood vessel morphogenesis

Tissue morphogenesis is complex process that involves the proliferation, differentiation and migration of cells, and their assembly into functional structures and organs. We are particularly interested in the formation of new blood vessels, which involves the endothelial cells lining the lumen of the vasculature, supporting pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells as well as signals from the surrounding tissues. Understanding the molecular signals controlling physiological blood vessel morphogenesis will also provide insight into pathological processes such as tumor angiogenesis and pave the way for therapeutic approaches.

We are looking for a postdoctoral research fellow that wants to study the processes above with a combination of genetic experiments in mice, cell biology, biochemistry and microarray expression analysis. Our genetic approaches utilize methods for inducible and cell type-specific gene inactivation or over-expression and involve the characterization of physiological and pathological processes in animal models.

Other projects in the Vascular Development Laboratory include the analysis of signalling by Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin ligands in the cardiovascular system, the regulation of cell-matrix interactions and cell migration, and the functional characterisation of Junctional Adhesion Molecules.

The Cancer Research UK London Research Institute and the laboratory provide a highly supportive and stimulating environment to facilitate competitive research. Applicants should have a strong background in cell biology techniques, primary culture, gene expression analysis and/or vertebrate development. Please contact Ralf Adams (ralf.adams@cancer.org.uk) for more information.

References

1. Makinen T, Adams RH, Bailey J, Lu Q, Ziemiecki A, Alitalo K, Klein R and Wilkinson GA. PDZ interaction site in ephrinB2 is required for the remodelling of lymphatic vasculature. Genes Dev 2005; 19:397-410.



2. Gliki G, Ebnet K, Aurrand-Lions M, Imhof BA and Adams RH. Spermatid differentiation requires the assembly of a cell polarity complex downstream of junctional adhesion molecule-C. Nature 2004; 431:320-4.



3. Takamiya K, Kostourou V, Adams S, Jadeja S, Chalepakis G, Scambler PJ, Huganir RL and Adams RH. A direct functional link between the multi-PDZ domain protein GRIP1 and the Fraser syndrome protein Fras1. Nat. Genet 2004; 36:172-177.



4. Compagni A, Logan M, Klein R and Adams RH. Control of skeletal patterning by ephrinB1-EphB interactions. Dev. Cell 2003; 5:217-230.



5. Adams RH, Diella F, Hennig S, Helmbacher F, Deutsch U and Klein R. The cytoplasmic domain of the ligand ephrinB2 is required for vascular morphogenesis but not cranial neural crest migration. Cell 2001; 104:57-69.