Department of Biology

Research:

My research program studies the molecular mechanisms by which insect hormones direct the transcription of genes associated with metamorphosis, with a special interest in two nuclear receptor proteins that together form an active steroid hormone receptor. Through site-directed mutagenesis, cell culture, and the construction of transgenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster, we are testing the effects of mutated and structurally modified receptors on gene expression and developmental processes. We are also developing assays to discover new insecticides that exert their effects by disrupting specific receptors, and thereby cause the death of feeding insect larvae. The receptors are also being studied for their potential use as transcriptional inducers of beneficial genes in plants, and as agents for gene therapy in humans and other animals.

Recent Publications:

Y Sun, S An, VC Henrich and Q Song (2008) Proteomic identification of PKC-mediated expression of 20E-induced protein in Drosophila melanogaster. J. Proteomic Res., 6, 4478-4488.

Marshall, M.M., R. Amos, V.C. Henrich, and P.A. Rublee. (2008). Metagenomic profiling of aquatic microbial communities using SSU rDNA sequences: Implications for environmental assessments. Ecological Indicators 8:442-453.

Costantino, FB, D. Bricker, K Alexandre, K Shen, J. Merriam, J. Callender, V Henrich, A Presente, and AJ Andres (2008). A novel ecdysone (20E) receptor mediates steroid-regulated developmental events prior to the onset of metamorphosis in Drosophila. PLoS Genetics, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000102.

JM Beatty, G Smagghe, T Ogura, Y Nakagawa, M Spindler-Barth, and VC Henrich (2009) Properties of ecdysteroid receptors from diverse insect species: A basis for identifying novel insecticides. FEBS J, 276, 3087-3098.

Henrich, VC, and JM Beatty (2009) Drosophila Nuclear Receptors. In: Handbook of Cell Signalling, Second Edition. Elsevier Press, San Diego. Ch. 248, 2027-2037.

Nakagawa, Y, and VC Henrich (2009) Arthropod nuclear receptors and their role in molting. FEBS J, 276, 6128 - 6157.

Phillips, SL, VC Henrich, and ST Mace (2010) Prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss in student musicians. Int. J. Audiol., 49, 309-316.

Christianson, CA,Powell, KL, Hahn, SE, Bartz, D, Roxbury, T, Blanton, SH, Vance, JM, Pericak-Vance, M, Telfair, J,and Vincent C. Henrich, PhD (2010)Findings from a community education needs assessment to facilitate the integration of genomic medicine into primary care.Genet in Medicine, in press.

Classes:

Genetics (BIO 392)
Genetics Lab (BIO 393)
Undergraduate Research (BIO 499)

Contact:

211 Eberhart Building
(336)334-4775