John Svaren

Credentials: Comparative Biosciences Department

Position title: Transcriptional regulation of peripheral nerve myelination

Email: jpsvaren@wisc.edu

Phone: (608) 263-4246

Address:
661 Waisman Center
1500 Highland Ave
Madison, WI 53705

Headshot

LAB WEBSITE:

Svaren Lab

FOCUS GROUPS:

Transcriptional Mechanisms; Cellular & Molecular Metabolism; Developmental Biology & Regenerative Medicine

RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:

Our laboratory is focused on the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of myelination. Myelin is a vital constituent of the nervous system that increases the speed of action potentials, and also provides trophic support for the long axons that project from neurons. Our studies are centered on the myelin-producing cells of the peripheral nervous system, and the picture below shows a Schwann cell that has synthesized a myelin sheath around the axon to the left. We have focused on elucidating gene regulation of individual myelin genes by two major regulators of Schwann cell function: Egr2 and Sox10. Sox10 is required at virtually all phases of Schwann cell development and Egr2 is required for initation of myelination. For example, we have recently characterized enhancers within the Pmp22 gene, which is duplicated in the most common form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, classified as CMT1A. These studies are also developing novel screening assays to identify drugs that could be used for this very common peripheral neuropathy.

ALSO A TRAINER IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (MCP), Cellular and Molecular Pathology (CMP), Comparative Biomedical Sciences (CBMS)

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