Patrick Kerstein

Active Mentor - currently hosting PULSe students for laboratory rotations and recruiting PULSe students into the laboratory; serves on preliminary exam committees

Current Research Interests:

Our research is focused on identifying the genetic mechanisms that control neuronal cell fate and connectivity in the developing visual system in health and disease. To identify these genes, we use mouse genetics for cell-type specific gene knockouts and single cell labeling for cell fate mapping and morphological analysis. Using these techniques, we are interested in how the developing retina generates the correct neuronal cell types and synaptic connections. We are also interested identifying the environmental factors, such as Pb toxicity, that lead to visual disorders, such as retinal degeneration and optic nerve atrophy. The goal is to identify and develop novel therapeutic targets to prevent and repair visual diseases.

Selected Publications:

Kerstein PC, Leffler J, Sivyer B, Taylor WR, Wright KM. (2020) “Gbx2 identifies two amacrine cell subtypes with distinct molecular, morphological, and physiological properties.” Cell Rep. 33(7):108382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108382

O’Sullivan ML, Punal VM, Kerstein PC, Brzezinski JA, Glaser T, Wright KM, Kay JN. (2017) “Astrocytes Follow Ganglion Cell Axons to Establish an Angiogenic Template During Retinal Development.” Glia. 65(10):1697-1716. https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.23189

Kerstein PC, Patel KM, Gomez TM. (2017) “Calpain cleavage of FAK and Talin regulates adhesion dynamics during axon guidance.” J. Neurosci. 37(6):1568-1580. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2769-16.2016

Kerstein PC, Nichol RH, Gomez TM. (2015) “Mechanochemical regulation of growth cone motility.” Front. Cell. Neurosci. 9:244. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2015.00244

Kerstein PC, Jacques-Fricke BT, Rengifo J, Mogen BJ, Williams JC, Gottlieb PA, Sachs F, Gomez TM. (2013) “Mechanosensitive TRPC1 channels promote calpain proteolysis of talin in filopodia to regulate spinal axon outgrowth.” J. Neurosci. 33(1): 273-285. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2142-12.2013