Aimée Ryan, PhD

Primary Axis: 
Human Reproduction and Development
Email: 
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Research Focus: 

In vertebrates, the asymmetric formation and positioning of the internal organs on the left and right sides of the body is essential for normal physiology. Although a number of molecules have been shown to be critical for establishing left and right sides of the embryo, there are still many gaps in our understanding of how asymmetric gene expression is converted into asymmetric organ development. One of the molecules that is important for this process is Pitx2c, a transcription factor that is expressed on the left side of the embryo prior to organ formation and subsequently on the left side of some organs. In my lab, we are investigating how Pitx2c functions in left-right patterning by identifying its target genes and interaction partners. We are also studying the role of the claudin family of tight junction proteins in the establishment and maintenance of the left-right axis at gastrulation.

Keywords: 
Left-right axis, Embryogenesis, Organogenesis, Claudin, Tight Junctions, Pitx2, Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, Gastrulation, Chick embryos
Location: 
Montreal Children's Hospital
Publications:
Collins, M.M., and Ryan, A.K. (2011) Manipulating claudin gene expression in ovo. Methods in Molecular Biology 762:195-212; 2011
Haddad, N., El Andalousi, J., Khairallah, H., Yu, M., Ryan, A.K. and Gupta, IR. The tight junction protein Claudin-3 shows conserved expression in the nephric duct and ureteric bud and promotes tubulogenesis in vitro; Epub 20 July 2011
Parkinson, N., Collins, M.M., Dufresne, L. and Ryan, A.K. Expression of hormones, signaling molecules and transcription factors during adenohypophysis development in the chick embryo. Developmental Dynamics 239:1197-1210; 2010
Gupta, I.R. and Ryan, A.K. Claudins: Unlocking the code to tight junction function during embryogenesis and in disease. Clinical Genetics 77:314-325; 2010
Simard, A., Di Giorgio, L., Amen, M., Amendt, B.A., and Ryan, A.K. The Pitx2c N-terminal domain is a critical interaction domain required for asymmetric morphogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 238:2459-2470; 2009
Garcia-Lavandeira, M., Quereda, V., Flores, I., Saez, C., Dias-Rodriguez, E., Japon, M.A.,Ryan, A.K., Blasco, M.A., Dieguez, C., Malumbres, M. and Alvarez, C.V. (2009) A GRFa2/Prop1/Sox (GPS) niche in the pituitary. PLoS ONE 4(3):e4815; Epub 2009 Mar 13 2009
Simard, A., Di Pietro, E., Young, C., Plaza, S. and A. K. Ryan. Alterations in heart looping induced by overexpression of the tight junction protein Claudin-1 are dependent on its C-terminal cytoplasmic tail. Mechanisms of Development 123: 210-227; 2006
Simard, A., Di Pietro, E. and Ryan, A.K. Gene expression pattern of claudin-1 during chick embryogenesis. Gene Expression Patterns 5:553-560; 2005