Diana Schwab-Himmelstein

d-schwab@northwestern.edu

Northwestern University
Institute for Neuroscience

Laboratory of Dr. Jhumku Kohtz
Developmental Biology Program
2430 N. Halsted St, Rm C-458H
Chicago, IL 60614

BS, Bucknell University

The Kohtz lab studies Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), a critical regulatory gene involved in development of the mammalian forebrain. My thesis project specifically centers on the lipid modifications and multimeric properties of Shh, as well as a putative zinc hydrolase site. Each of these protein features is concomitantly involved in regulating the ability of Shh to signal at both a short and long range. I am investigating the role of the zinc hydrolytic site by generating mice containing a point mutation at the catalytic glutamate at this site. Additionally, I am exploring the effects of introducing retroviruses containing this mutation, and other Shh mutations preventing attachment of the lipid moities, into the developing embryo using ultrasound-guided imaging.

Publications:
Romano AG, Quinn JL, Liu R, Dave KD, Schwab D, Alexander G, Aloyo VJ, Harvey JA. (2006) Effect of serotonin depletion on 5-HT2A-mediated learning in the rabbit: evidence for constitutive activity of the 5-HT2A receptor in vivo. Psychopharmacology, 184: 173-181.