Faculty of Medicine
Memorial University of Newfoundland
300 Prince Phillip Drive, St. John's, NL
Canada  A1B 3V6

Phone: 709-777-6897 (Assoc. Dean's Office)
709 777-6488 (Office Direct)
709 777-6637 (Lab) 
709 777-6888

kmearow@mun.ca

My interests are in the regulation of neuronal survival and axonal regeneration in the mature peripheral nervous system.  The cells of interest are the sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG neurons) and we employ in vitro neuronal culture models to study DRG neuronal survival and axonal regeneration.  We are primarily interested in signal transduction pathways activated by neurotrophic factors (like NGF), extracellular matrix molecules (like laminin) or those activated by stress or neuronal injury.  In addition, in order to examine the potential role of HSP27 in protecting CNS neurons from amyloid toxicity, we have begun to use cultures of CNS (hippocampal and cerebellar) neurons.

Our current research follows 2 major areas: 1. Understanding the processes regulating the regrowth of damaged axons, with a particular interest in characterizing how growth factor-activated pathways interact with integrin-dependent signaling to promote optimal axonal growth. 2. Characterizing neuronal adaptive responses to potentially lethal insults such as oxidative stress, heat shock, or growth factor withdrawal.  In these studies we are focusing on the role of the small heat shock protein, HSP27, in protecting neurons from these stresses as well as its potential role in protecting cytoskeletal elements.

We use an in vitro approach to study signaling commponents that are likely to be important in regulating survival and axonal growth. These signaling pathways are investigated using a variety of approaches - biochemical ( Western blotting and IPs), molecular (siRNA, antisense approaches, cDNA transfection) and by confocal imaging.

Current lab projects 

1 Interactions of growth factor and integrin signal transduction pathways to promote optimal axonal growth (CIHR funded 2006-2011)
2 Role of the small heat shock protein HSP27 in neuronal survival and growth (NSERC funded 2003-2008)
3 The action of the small heat shock protei, HSP27, in the protection of CNS neurons (CIHR/RPP funded 2006-2009)

Current Teaching

Med 310 Lectures

Current Lab Personnel

Masuma Rahimtula, Research Associate

Michael King, MSc. Candidate

Sherri Rankin, Ph.D. Candidate (supported by NSERC, CGS-Doctoral Award, Dean's Excellence Award)

Budd Tucker, Ph.D. Candidate (supported by NSERC, CGS-Doctoral Award, Dean's Excellence Award); awarded NSERC PDF for postdoctoral studies at Skepens Eye Institute, Harvard University.

Kristy Williams, Ph.D. Candidate

Recent Graduates

Budd Tucker, Ph.D. (2006)

Elaine Dodge, Ph.D. (2006)

David Jones, MSc. (2003)

Kurt Kimpinski, Ph.D. (2002)

Yawei Hao, MSc  (1998)

Recent Publications

Tucker BA, Rahimtula M, Mearow KM. Laminin and growth factor induced neurite growth is differentially regulated in subpopulations of adult DRG neurons. European Journal of Neuroscience. 2006 (avail online 14 Aug). (this article was selected to provide the cover illustration for this issue of EJN)

Rankin SL, Rahimtula M, Mearow KM. A method to assess multiple aspects of the motile behaviour of adherent PC12 cells on applied biological substrates. J Neurosci Methods. 2006 Mar 20 (epub - available online).

Dodge ME, Wang J, Guy C, Rankin S, Rahimtula M, Mearow KM. Stress-induced heat shock protein 27 expression and its role in dorsal root ganglion neuronal survival. Brain Research. 2006 Jan 12;1068(1):34-48.

Tucker BA, Rahimtula M, Mearow KM. A procedure for selecting and culturing subpopulations of neurons from rat dorsal root ganglia using magnetic beads. Brain Res Brain Res Protoc. 2005 Dec;16(1-3):50-7.

Tucker BA, Rahimtula M, Mearow KM.
Integrin activation and neurotrophin signaling cooperate to enhance neurite outgrowth in sensory neurons. J Comp Neurol. 2005 Jun 6;486(3):267-80.

Williams KL, Rahimtula M, Mearow KM. Hsp27 and axonal growth in adult sensory neurons in vitro. BMC Neurosci. 2005 Apr 8;6(1):24.

Jones DM, Tucker BA, Rahimtula M, Mearow KM. The synergistic effects of NGF and IGF-1 on neurite growth in adult sensory neurons: convergence on the PI 3-kinase signaling pathway. J Neurochem. 2003 Sep;86(5):1116-28.

Mearow KM, Dodge ME, Rahimtula M, Yegappan C. Stress-mediated signaling in PC12 cells - the role of the small heat shock protein, Hsp27, and Akt in protecting cells from heat stress and nerve growth factor withdrawal. J.  Neurochem. 2002 Oct;83(2):452-62.

Dodge ME, Rahimtula M, Mearow KM. Factors contributing to neurotrophin-independent survival of adult sensory neurons. Brain Res. 2002 Oct 25;953(1-2):144-56.

Kimpinski K, Mearow K. Neurite growth promotion by nerve growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-1 in cultured adult sensory neurons: role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and mitogen activated protein kinase. J Neurosci Res. 2001 Mar 15;63(6):486-99.