Jae Park Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology The University of Tennessee F217 Walters Life Sciences 1414 W. Cumberland Ave. Knoxville, TN 37996 865-974-3035 jhpark@utk.edu

Keywords:
Neurogenetics of biological rhythms and behavior; neurodevelopment in Drosophila

Description of Research:
My research focuses on the biological functions of various neuropeptide-encoding genes and their neurons in the central nervous system of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In particular, we are interested in neuronal architecture and functions in the regulation of biological rhythms, feeding and metabolism. Other areas of research involve molecular mechanisms of neuropeptide gene regulation, and genetic and molecular basis of neuronal apoptosis during metamorphic changes of central nervous system. Technically, we routinely carry out molecular cloning works, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, transformation, conventional fly genetics, and behavior assays.  My research program has been supported by NSF and NIH.

Selected Publications:

• Choi YJ, Lee G, Hall JC and Park JH (2004) Comparative analysis of Corazonin-encoding genes (Crz's) in Drosophila species and functional insight into Corazonin-expressing neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. In press.


• Lee G and Park JH (2004) Hemolymph sugar homeostasis and starvation-induced hyperactivity affected by genetic manipulations of the Adipokinetic hormone-encoding gene in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 167: 311-323.


• Wu Q, Wen T, Lee G, Park JH, Cai HN and Shen P (2003) Developmental control of foraging and social behavior by the Drosophila neuropeptide Y-like system. Neuron 39: 147-161.


• Park JH*, Schroeder AJ*, Helfrich-Förster C, Jackson FR and Ewer J (2003) Targeted ablation of CCAP neuropeptide-containing neurons of Drosophila causes specific defects in execution and circadian timing of ecdysis behavior. Development 130: 2645-2656. (*co-first author)


• Lee G, Hall JC and Park JH (2002) Doublesex gene expression in the central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster. J. Neurogenetics 16: 229-248.


• Park JH (2002) Downloading central clock information in Drosophila. Mol. Neurobiol. 26: 217-233.


• Taghert P, Hewes RS, Park JH, O'Brien MA, Han M and Peck ME (2001) Multiple amidated neuropeptides are required for normal circadian locomotor rhythms in Drosophila. J. Neurosci. 21: 6673-6686.


• Park JH, Helfrich-Förster C, Lee G-H, Li L, Rosbash M, and Hall JC (2000) Differential regulation of circadian pacemaker output by separate clock genes in Drosophila. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97: 3608-3613.


• Helfrich-Förster C, Täuber M, Park JH, Mühlig-Versen M, Schneuwly S, and Hofbauer A (2000) Ectopic expression of the neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) alters behavioral rhythms in Drosophila melanogaster. J. Neurosci. 20: 3339-3353.


• Kaneko M, Park JH, Chen Y, Hardin P and Hall JC (2000) Disruption of synaptic transmission or clock-gene-product oscillations in circadian pacemaker cells of Drosophila cause abnormal behavioral rhythms. J. Neurobiol. 43: 207-233.


• Renn SCP*, Park JH*, Rosbash M, Hall JC and Taghert PH (1999) A pdf neuropeptide gene mutation and ablation of PDF neurons each cause severe abnormalities of behavioral circadian rhythms in Drosophila. Cell 99: 791-802. (*co-first author).


• Park JH and Hall JC (1998) Isolation and chronobiological analysis of a neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor gene in Drosophila melanogaster. J. Biol. Rhythms 13: 219-228.