Department of Biology

John M. Bush
John M. Bush
Associate Professor

(501) 569-3520
(501) 569-3271 (fax)

jmbush@ualr.edu

Ph.D. (Microbiology) 1991 Louisiana State University Medical Center
Dissertation: "Molecular mechanisms regulating the processing, transport, and targeting of lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum."

M.S. (Zoology) 1984 Louisiana Tech University
Thesis: "The effects of various methods of insulin delivery on the kidney size, glomerular volume, and overall weight gain in experimentally induced diabetic rats."

B.S. (Zoology) 1981 Louisiana Tech University

Research Interests

Molecular Biology
Biotechnology

In animal and plant cells materials are transported via membrane vesicles. This process is essential for life and defects in such transport have been linked to human disease. The mechanisms of this process are being studied and key proteins identified that carry on cellular vesicular transport. One group of key proteins is the Rab small molecular GTPases. These enzymes are responsible for the movement of vesicles to and from intracellular and extracellular locations. My lab is using the simple haploid organism Dictyostelium dicoideum, in conjunction with molecular biology and biotechnology- based approaches to determine the structure and function of several of these Rab proteins, especially Rab 11 and 4.

Professional Experience August 1999 to present: Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas.

August 1995-August 1999: Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas.

August 1991 - August 1995: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport, La. Supervisor - Dr. James Cardelli.

1986-1991: Research Associate, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport, La. Supervisor - Dr. James Cardelli.


Courses Taught BIOL 2401 Microbiology (Click here for course description)
BIOL 3300 Genetics
BIOL 4417/5417 Molecular Biology (Every Spring)
     (Click here for course description)


Recent Publications Exp Cell Res 1999 Mar 15;247(2):356-66 A mutation that separates the RasG signals that regulate development and cytoskeletal function in Dictyostelium. Zhang T, Rebstein PJ, Khosla M, Cardelli J, Buczynski G, Bush J, Spiegelman GB, Weeks G
Link to abstract

Mol Biol Cell 1998 Oct;9(10):2891-904 Overexpression of a novel rho family GTPase, RacC, induces unusual actin-based structures and positively affects phagocytosis in Dictyostelium discoideum. Seastone DJ, Lee E, Bush J, Knecht D, Cardelli J
Link to abstract

Mol Biol Cell 1997 Jul; 8(7): 1343-60 Evidence for a recycling role for Rab7 in regulating a late step in endocytosis and in retention of lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum. Buczynski G, Bush J, Zhang L, Rodriguez-Paris J, Cardelli J
Link to abstract

J Cell Biol 1997 Mar 24;136(6):1271-86 Inactivation of two Dictyostelium discoideum genes, DdPIK1 and DdPIK2, encoding proteins related to mammalian phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases, results in defects in endocytosis, lysosome to postlysosome transport, and actin cytoskeleton organization. Buczynski G, Grove B, Nomura A, Kleve M, Bush J, Firtel RA, Cardelli J
Link to Abstract

Mol Biol Cell 1996 Oct;7(10):1623-38 A role for a Rab4-like GTPase in endocytosis and in regulation of contractile vacuole structure and function in Dictyostelium discoideum. Bush J, Temesvari L, Rodriguez-Paris J, Buczynski G, Cardelli J
Link to Abstract

J Cell Sci 1996 Jun;109 ( Pt 6):1479-95 Involvement of the vacuolar proton-translocating ATPase in multiple steps of the endo-lysosomal system and in the contractile vacuole system of Dictyostelium discoideum. Temesvari LA, Rodriguez-Paris JM, Bush JM, Zhang L, Cardelli JA
Link to Abstract

J Cell Sci 1996 Mar;109 ( Pt 3):663-73 Examination of the endosomal and lysosomal pathways in Dictyostelium discoideum myosin I mutants. Temesvari LA, Bush JM, Peterson MD, Novak KD, Titus MA, Cardelli JA
Link to Abstract

J Biol Chem 1994 Oct 14;269(41):25719-27 Characterization of lysosomal membrane proteins of Dictyostelium discoideum. A complex population of acidic integral membrane glycoproteins, Rab GTP-binding proteins and vacuolar ATPase subunits. Temesvari L, Rodriguez-Paris J, Bush J, Steck TL, Cardelli J
Link to Abstract

J Cell Sci 1994 Oct;107 ( Pt 10):2801-12 A Rab4-like GTPase in Dictyostelium discoideum colocalizes with V-H(+)-ATPases in reticular membranes of the contractile vacuole complex and in lysosomes. Bush J, Nolta K, Rodriguez-Paris J, Kaufmann N, O'Halloran T, Ruscetti T, Temesvari L, Steck T, Cardelli J
Link to Abstract

Oncogene 1994 Feb;9(2):501-8 Isolation of two novel ras genes in Dictyostelium discoideum; evidence for a complex, developmentally regulated ras gene subfamily. Daniel J, Bush J, Cardelli J, Spiegelman GB, Weeks G
Link to Abstract

J Biol Chem 1994 Jan 14;269(2):1468-76 Molecular cloning and characterization of the full-length cDNA encoding the developmentally regulated lysosomal enzyme beta-glucosidase in Dictyostelium discoideum. Bush J, Richardson J, Cardelli J
Link to Abstract

Gene 1993 Dec 22;136(1-2):61-8 Cloning and characterization of seven novel Dictyostelium discoideum rac-related genes belonging to the rho family of GTPases. Bush J, Franek K, Cardelli J
Link to Abstract

Gene 1993 Dec 22;136(1-2):55-60 Cloning and characterization of five novel Dictyostelium discoideum rab-related genes. Bush J, Franek K, Daniel J, Spiegelman GB, Weeks G, Cardelli J
Link to Abstract

J Biol Chem 1993 Sep 15;268(26):19632-9 Characterization of the signal transduction pathways and cis-acting DNA sequence responsible for the transcriptional induction during growth and development of the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase gene in Dictyostelium discoideum. Schatzle J, Bush J, Dharmawardhane S, Firtel RA, Gomer RH, Cardelli J
Link to Abstract

Nucleic Acids Res 1993 Apr 11;21(7):1675 Molecular cloning and DNA sequence of a Dictyostelium cDNA encoding a Ran/TC4 related GTP binding protein belonging to the ras superfamily. Bush J, Cardelli J
Link to Abstract

Research Projects Vesicular Transport in Dictyostelium
Molecular Systematics in Hummingbirds
http://dicty.cmb.nwu.edu/dicty/dicty.html

***I am always looking for superior senior/junior biology students for Independent Study/Undergraduate Research Credit****


Professional Memberships American Society for Cell Biology
Federation of American Society for Experimental Biology


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