Robert W Brackenbury , PhD

My long-term interest and expertise is in the area of cell-cell adhesion and cell-cell interactions. For many years, I worked on the structure and function of the neural cell adhesion molecule, N-CAM. A particular focus of our studies is the relationship between cell-cell adhesion and tumor cell movement and invasion. In the last few years, we have focused on two members of the cadherin family of cell adhesion molecules, E-cadherin and N-cadherin. Work from other labs has shown that E-cadherin suppresses cell movement and that loss of E-cadherin promotes movement and invasion. In contrast, expression of N-cadherin does not suppress, but rather, promotes invasion. We defined a sequence, termed the S domain, within the cytoplasmic segment of both E- and N-cadherin that is required for suppression of cell motility. In N-cadherin, however, the ability of the S domain to suppress motility is squelched by a second region, called the M domain. We are currently defining molecules that bind to these domains and are required for their function. These studies offer the hope of defining new targets for arresting or preventing tumor invasion.

Grant: #2003-UC-15 BRTT-01-A0-S0-E0 Investigators:Brackenbury, Robert 07-01-2002 -06-30-2014 Ohio Board of Regents Functional Genomics in Biomedical Research Role:PI $175,000.00 Active Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #R25 GM072834 Investigators:Brackenbury, Robert 05-01-2005 -04-30-2010 National Institute of General Medical Sciences Research Experience for Undergraduates in Functional Genomics and Cell Biology Role:PI $268,074.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #DAMD17-98-1-8292-03-A0-S0-E0 Investigators:Brackenbury, Robert 08-01-1998 -07-31-2002 Department of the Army Control of Carcinoma Cell Motility by E-Cadherin Role:PI $313,952.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #5-R01-AR-44713-04-A0-S0-E0 Investigators:Brackenbury, Robert 04-10-1998 -03-31-2003 National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease Control of Epithelial Cell Motility by E-Cadherin Role:PI $930,446.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #235-433 Investigators:Brackenbury, Robert 07-01-2007 -06-30-2012 Ohio Board of Regents Economic Growth Challenge/Innovation Incentive Program in Cancer Research Role:PI $1,250,000.00 Active Level:State of Ohio

Peer Reviewed Publications

Li, B; Paradies, N E; Brackenbury, R W (1997. ) Isolation and characterization of the promoter region of the chicken N-cadherin gene. Gene, , 191 (1 ) ,7-13

Bell, S M; Brackenbury, R W; Leslie, N D; Degen, J L (1990. ) Plasminogen activator gene expression is induced by the src oncogene product and tumor promoters. The Journal of biological chemistry, , 265 (3 ) ,1333-8

Brackenbury, R W; Schindler, J; Alexander, S; Sussman, M (1974. ) A choice of morphogenetic pathways in Dictyostelium discoideum induced by the adenosine analog formycin B. Journal of molecular biology, , 90 (3 ) ,529-39

Academic - Vontz Center for Molecular Studies
Room 3124
Phone: 513-558-6080
Robert.Brackenbury@uc.edu