Eric G. Moss
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dept of Biology, University of Pennsylvania;
Associate Professor, Dept of Molecular Biology,
University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ

Genetics and Gene Regulation Program

Address

Department of Molecular Biology
UMDNJ
2 Medical Center Drive
Stratford NJ, 08084

Office tel.: 856 566-2896
Lab tel.: 856 566-2866
Fax: 856 566-6291
E-mail: mosseg@umdnj.edu

Link(s)

Moss Lab Website

Education

University of Rochester, BS (Microbiology) 1984

Columbia University, Ph.D. (Microbiology)1991

Research Interests

• developmental timing, microRNA function, post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, developmental genetics of C. elegans

Key words: C. elegans, development, microRNA, translation, mRNA, RNA-binding protein.

Search PubMed for articles

Description of Research

We are investigating how development is controlled in the fourth dimension. Animals posess explicit genetic regulatory mechanisms that control the timing and synchrony of developmental events. Interestingly, the molecules involved are unlike other developmental patterning regulators and often involve post-transcriptional gene regulation. Most prominent among these unusual regulators are the microRNAs which were discovered in the developmental timing pathway of the nematode C. elegans. We are combining biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics to dissect and explore the developmental timing mechanism.

We discovered that Lin-28, an RNA-binding protein and a key developmental timing regulator of C. elegans, is conserved from worms to humans. It appears to be a timing regulator in many developmental events in the mouse and to be regulated by microRNAs through its 3' untranslated region. We are using the power of mouse molecular and developmental biology to extend our understanding of timing from worms to mice and humans.

Recent Publications

Pepper, A.S.-R., McCane, J.E., K. Kemper, Au Yeung, D., Lee, R.C., Ambros, V., Moss, E.G. The C. elegans heterochronic gene lin-46 affects developmental timing at two larval stages and encodes a relative of the scaffolding protein gephyrin. Development 131(9):2049-59. 2004.

Sempere LF, Freemantle S, Pitha-Rowe I, Moss E, Dmitrovsky E and Ambros V. Expression profiling of mammalian microRNAs uncovers a subset of brain-expressed microRNAs with possible roles in murine and human neuronal differentiation. Genome Biology 5:R13. 2004.

Yang, D.-H. and E.G. Moss. Temporally regulated expression of LIN-28 in diverse tissues of the developing mouse. Gene Exp. Pat. 3(6):719-26. 2003.

Moss EG and Tang L. (2003) Conservation of the heterochronic regulator Lin-28, its developmental expression and microRNA complementary sites. Dev Biol. 258(2):432-42.

Seggerson K, Tang L, Moss EG. (2002) Two genetic circuits repress the Caenorhabditis elegans heterochronic gene lin-28 after translation initiation. Dev Biol. 243(2):215-25.