Stewart, Bryan
Full Research Description:
Research in the Stewart laboratory is aimed at understanding how the brain works. We use a multidisciplinary approach to address the molecular mechanisms of neural development and function. Central to our research is using Drosophila genetics to discover and manipulate molecules that are important to neurons. We then study the effects of such manipulations by measuring the electrical signals produced by neurons; we examine the development of neurons using light and electronmicroscopy, and we investigate how proteins interact using biochemistry. Our work has implications for understanding normal brain functions, such as learning and memory, as well as understanding the effects of neural disease. We actively collaborate with other researchers in Physics, Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Toronto and internationally with colleagues in the United States and Japan to reach our goals.
Some Publications:
Laviolette, MJ, Nunes P, Peyre J-B, Aigaki T, Stewart BA (2005) A Genetic Screen for Suppressors of Drosophila NSF2 Neuromuscular Junction Overgrowth. Genetics 170:779-792
Stewart BA, Pearce J, Bajec MR, Khorana, R (2005) Disruption of Synaptic Development and Ultrastructure by NSF alleles of Drosophila. J Comp Neurol 488:101-111
Stewart BA, McLean JR (2004) Population density regulates Drosophila synaptic morphology in a Fasciclin-II dependent manner. J Neurobiol 61:392-399.
Stewart BA, Mohtashami M, Rivlin P, Deitcher D, Trimble WS, Boulianne GL (2002) Dominant-negative NSF2 disrupts the structure and function of Drosophila neuromuscular synapses. J Neurobiol 51:261-271.
VIlinsky I, Stewart BA, Drummond J, Robinson IM, Deitcher DL (2002) A Drosophila SNAP-25 null mutant reveals context-dependent redundancy with SNAP-24 in neurotransmission. Genetics 162: 259-271.
Bhattacharya S, Stewart BA, Niemeyer BA, Burgess RW, McCabe BD, Lin P, Boulianne GL, O'Kane CJ, Schwarz TL (2002) Members of the Synaptobrevin / VAMP family in Drosophila are functionally interchangeable in vivo for neurotransmitter release and cell viablity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 99:13867-13872.
Stewart BA (2002) Membrane Trafficking in Drosophila eye and wing development. Sem Cell Dev Biol. 13: 91-98.
Stewart, BA, Mohtashami, M, Zhou, L, Trimble, WS, Boulianne, GL (2001). SNARE-dependent signaling at the Drosophila wing margin. Dev. Biol. 234: 13-23.
Mohtashami, M, Stewart, BA, Boulianne, GL, Trimble, WS (2001). Analysis of mutant Drosophila N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion-1 protein in comatose reveals molecular correlates of the behavioural paralysis. J. Neurochemistry 77: 1407-1417.
Rao, S., Stewart, BA, Rivlin, P., Vilinsky, I., Watson, B., Lang, C., Boulianne, G.L., Salpeter, M., Deitcher, D.L. (2001) Two distinct effects on neurotransmission in a temperature-sensitive SNAP-25 mutant. EMBO J 20:6761- 6771.
Stewart, BA, Mohtashami, M, Trimble, WS, Boulianne, G.L.(2000). SNARE proteins contribute to calcium cooperativity of synaptic transmission. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 97:13955-13960.
