Nansi Jo Colley
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical Genetics
- Address:
- K6/460 Clinical Sciences
- Telephone:
- 265-5398
- Email:
- njcolley@wisc.edu
- Research Fields:
- Drosophila
- Neurogenetics
Ph.D., University of California at Santa Barbara, 1983
Postdoctoral Research: UCLA and UC-San Diego
Research Interests
Signal transduction and protein trafficking in the visual system of Drosophila
Research Description
Our objective is to understand the molecular basis of photoreceptor cell function in Drosophila melanogaster, with particular emphasis in two areas. One area of focus is on the role of calcium in signal transduction. We are utilizing a combined molecular, genetic, biochemical, electrophysiological, and cell biological approach to characterize a novel sodium/ calcium-potassium exchanger expressed in the Drosophila photoreceptor cells. Exchangers play a crucial role in modulating intracellular calcium and in adaptation. The second direction of the lab is on the biosynthesis of the major visual pigment, rhodopsin and the role of the cyclophilin homolog NinaA as a chaperone for rhodopsin biosynthesis. In addition to NinaA, we are interested in identifying novel gene products that are critical for protein trafficking and morphogenesis during development of the Drosophila visual system.
Representative Publications
- LaLonde, M.M., Janssens, H., Rosenbaum, E., Choi, S.Y., Gergen, J.Pl, Colley, N.J., Stark W. and Frohman M. A. 2005. Regulation of phototransduction responsiveness and retinal degeneration by a phospholipase D-generated signaling lipid. J. Cell Biol. 169:471-479.
- Cohen, J.H., Piatigorsky, J., Ding, L., Colley, N. J., Ward, R. and Horwitz, J. 2005. Vertebrate-like β-γ-crystallins in the ocular lenses of a copepod. Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology. 191:291-298.
- Winkfein, R.J., Pearson, B., Barkhurst, J.J., Ward, R., Szerencsei, R.T., Colley, N. J., and Schnetkamp, P.P.M. 2004. Molecular characterization, functional expression and tissue distribution of a second NCKX Na+/Ca2+-K+ exchanger from Drosophila. Cell Calcium. 36:147-155.
- Webel, R., Haug-Collet, K., Pearson, B., Szerencsei, R.T., Winkfein, R.J., Schnetkamp, P.P.M. and Colley, N.J. 2002. Potassium-dependent sodium-calcium exchange through the eye of the fly. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 976:1-15.
- Hartman, S., I. Menon, K. Haug-Collet, K. and N. J. Colley. 2001. Expression of rhodopsin and arrestin during the light-dark cycle in Drosophila. Molecular Vision. 7:95-100.