Current research interests
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease leading to progressive loss of motor neurons, loss of muscle control, and eventually paralysis and death. At present, there is no effective treatment for ALS. Recent advances indicate that sporadic ALS, and most non-SOD1 related familial ALS, is characterized pathologically by an accumulation of ubiquitin-conjugated, insoluble TDP-43 (TAR DNA binding protein -43) in surviving motor neurons. The role of TDP-43 in pathogenesis is unclear. My project utilizes Drosophila as a model system to understand the mechanisms underlying TDP-43 pathogenesis in ALS.
Personal Background
I was born in Philly and raised in the northeast outskirts of the city. I attended the University of Scranton where I earned a BS in Biology and Philosophy. I then earned an MS in Biology from Villanova University and a Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from Washington University in St. Louis. I enjoy watching baseball games, football games and devouring Philly favorites such as hotdogs, scrapple and cheesesteaks wit’ -especially from Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies (who will make the playoffs this year) and Lincoln Financial Field, home of the 2004 NFC Conference Champs, the Eagles.
Publications
Wolff, T., Guinto, J.B., and Rawls, A.S.. (2007). Screen for genetic modifiers of stbm
reveals that photoreceptor fate and rotation can be genetically uncoupled in the Drosophila eye. PLoS ONE 5, e453.
Guinto, J.B., Ritson, G.P., Taylor, J.P., and Forman, M.S. (2007). Valosin-containing
protein and the pathogenesis of frontotemporal dementia associated with inclusion body myopathy.Acta Neuropathologica (in press).
*Rawls, A.S., * Guinto, J.B., and Wolff, T. (2002). The Cadherins Fat and Dachsous Regulate Dorsal/Ventral Signaling in the Drosophila Eye. Current Biology 12, 1021-1026. ( * denotes co-first author)
