Mary Russell

Dr. Russell investigates the role of the type IV intermediate filament (IF) protein synemin as an A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP) in cardiac myocytes. AKAPs act to anchor PKA near substrates and thus aid in specificity of this signaling pathway. Numerous AKAPs have also been recognized as multivalent scaffold proteins, binding both activators and inhibitors of the PKA pathway and also other signaling proteins. In this way, at least some AKAPs act as sites of cross-talk.

Synemin is expressed in at least two isoforms in myocytes, with the larger isoform (a-synemin) containing a 312 amino acid insert near the C-terminus of its long tail domain. We believe that each synemin isoform plays a different role in signal transduction. This is based on the fact that each has an identical head and rod domain, the regions necessary for formation of IFs. The unusually long C-terminal tails of the type IV IF proteins are predicted to function in cell signaling and is the location of the 312 amino acid insert that differentiates the two synemin isoforms. Each isoform does contain the PKA binding region and thus functions as an AKAP.

With an eye towards elucidating the purpose of having two isoforms expressed in the same cell type, Dr. Russell has recently initiated several lines of study that have resulted in peer-reviewed publications and national grant submissions.

Anyone who is interested in participating in these studies, either as a member of the lab or a collaborator, is encouraged to contact Dr. Russell.

Included among the courses Dr. Russel teaches are:

• Biological Structure and Function
• Anatomy and Physiology I and II
• Basic Microbiology,Human Physiology 
• Human Genetics,
• Elements of Genetics
• Cell Biology 
• Pharmacology 
• Physiological Alterations I and II

Courses Taught

• Biological Structure & Function
• Human Physiology
• Basic Microbiology
• Human Genetics

Courses Teaching

Spring 2015

• BSCI 20020 - 702 Biol Structure And Function
• BSCI 20196 - 700 Intro Ind Investigation
• BSCI 30030 - 700 Human Physiology
• BSCI 30050 - 700 Human Genetics
• BSCI 40196 - 700 Individual Investigation

Summer 2015

• BSCI 20021 - 700 Basic Microbiology

Fall 2015

• BSCI 20020 - 702 Biol Structure And Function
• BSCI 30030 - 700 Human Physiology
• BSCI 30156 - 700 Elements Of Genetics

Research Areas

• Probe the functional differences between the two human isoforms of the intermediate filament protein synemin
• Identify additional novel PKA anchoring proteins in the human heart