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Research Description:
The Palladino lab uses Drosophila, the fruit fly, as a model system to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and discover therapeutic interventions for these diseases. Our lab has identified a large collection of novel neurodegenerative mutants using a powerful forward genetic approach. Characterization of these mutants will identify key proteins required for neural maintenance with age and a detailed understanding of the role of these gene products in human disease conditions. The Palladino research program is directed toward three main goals: 1) discovering and characterizing novel pathways that cause neurodegenerative diseases, 2) understanding the physiological, cellular and molecular dysfunction that causes neurodegeneration in vivo, and 3) using our animal system in pharmacological screens to identify neuroprotective compounds for the treatment of human neurodegenerative diseases. We are currently focusing on elucidating the mechanism by which mutations affecting Na/K ATPase, triose phosphate isomerase (TPI), and ATP6 function result in RDP (rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism), glycolytic enzymopthy, and mitochondrial encephalaomyopathy, respectively.
Education:
B.S. (Biology), Trinity College, 1997.
Ph.D. (Genetics – Biomedical Science), University of Connecticut Health Center, 2000.
Postdoctoral Fellow (Neurobiology), University of Wisconsin—Madison, 2003.
Important Publications:
- Paul SM, MJ Palladino and GJ Beitel. A novel Ion-transport independent function of the Na,K-ATPase in Drosophila is mediated by specific ATPa isoforms and the extracellular domain of Nrv2. Development 134(1):147-155, 2007
- Celotto AM, AC Frank, JL Seigle and MJ Palladino. Drosophila model of human inherited TPI deficiency glycolytic enzymopathy. Genetics 174:1237-1246, 2006
- Celotto AM, AC Frank, SW McGrath, TJ Fergestad, WA Van Voorhies, K Buttle, CA Mannella and J Palladino. Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies in drosophila. Journal of Neuroscience 26(3):810-820, 2006
- Fergestad T, B Ganetzky and MJ Palladino (2005). Neuropathology in Drosophila membrane excitability mutants. Genetics 172:1031-1042, 2005
- Palladino MJ, JE Bower, R Kreber and Barry Ganetzky. Neural dysfunction and neurodegeneration in Drosophila Na+/K+ ATPase alpha subunit mutants. Journal of Neuroscience 23(4):1276-1286, 2003
- Palladino MJ, TJ Hadley and B Ganetzky. Temperature-sensitive paralytic mutants are enriched for those causing neurodegeneration in Drosophila. Genetics 161(3):1197-1208, 2002
- Palladino MJ, LP Keegan, MA O’Connell and RA Reenan. A-to-I pre-mRNA editing in Drosophila is primarily involved in adult nervous system function and integrity. Cell 102(4):437-449, 2000
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