Dr. Grant Mastick
Associate Professor
Developmental neurobiology; Genetics of axon guidance in vertebrates; neurogenesis and neuron differentiation.

Alma College, MI, B.S. Biology, Chemistry, 1986
Carnegie Mellon University,  Ph.D. Biological Sciences, 1992
University of Michigan, Postdoctoral Fellow, Developmental Neurobiology, 1992-1998

Current Projects / Research
To build a brain, the embryo must produce a spatially organized array of a vast number of neurons, then interconnect them. Our research group uses genetic and molecular approaches in mouse and chick embryos to investigate the functions of specific genes in brain development. This research has implications for the molecular therapy of neurological disease and injury, and is funded by the March of Dimes and the National Institutes of Health.

Our current interests are to define how longitudinal axons navigate through the brain. Axons actively grow along precise pathways through brain tissue. Very little is known about the molecular signals or how axons might respond with precise longitudinal growth. We are currently exploring the roles of diffusible proteins that act as long distance signals. Our results indicate that the Slit family of chemorepellents, and their Robo receptors, are critical for axons to grow along precise longitudinal pathways. We are currently investigating Slit/Robo mechanisms using a range of approaches in embryos and in cultured axons. We have also found that the Netrin chemoattractants act to counterbalance Slit repulsion, and that together the two opposing signaling systems set the position of longitudinal trajectories. The goal of these studies is reach an integrated view of the molecular mechanisms of longitudinal axon guidance.

Selected Publications (PubMed search for Mastick GS)

W. Todd Farmer, Amy L. Altick, Hikmet Feyza Nural, James P Dugan, Thomas Kidd, Frédéric Charron, and Grant S. Mastick. “Pioneer longitudinal axons navigate using floor plate and Slit/Robo signals.” Development 135, 3643-3653 (2008). http://dev.biologists.org/cgi/content/full/135/22/3643

Gracie L. Andrews, Shawna Tanglao, W. Todd Farmer, Steves Morin, Steven Brotman, Michael A. Berberoglu, Hilary Price, George C. Fernandez, Grant S. Mastick, Frederic Charron, and Thomas Kidd. Dscam guides embryonic axons by Netrin-dependent and -independent functions. Development 135: 3839-3848 (2008). http://dev.biologists.org/cgi/content/full/135/23/3839

Nural HF, Farmer WT, and Mastick Grant S. The Slit receptor Robo1 is predominantly expressed via the Dutt1 alternative promoter in pioneer neurons in the embryonic mouse brain and spinal cord. Gene Expression Patterns, 7: 837-845 (2007).

Amy L. Altick, Christopher Dravis, Tracey Bowdler, Mark Henkemeyer, and Grant S. Mastick. EphB receptor tyrosine kinases control morphological development of the ventral midbrain. Mechanisms of Development 122: 501-512 (2005).

Gary T. Philips, Carrie N. Stair, Hae Young, Emily Wroblewski, Michael A. Berberoglu, Nadean L. Brown, and Grant S. Mastick. Precocious retinal neurons: Pax6 controls timing of differentiation and determination of cell type. Developmental Biology 279(2):308-21 (2005).

H. Feyza Nural and Grant S. Mastick. Pax6 guides a relay of pioneer longitudinal axons in the embryonic mouse forebrain. J Comparative Neurology 479:399–409 (2004).

Gracie L. Andrews and Grant S. Mastick. R-cadherin is a Pax6-regulated, growth-promoting cue for pioneer axons. Journal of Neuroscience 23: 98739880 (2003).

Gracie L. Andrews, Kyuson Yun, John L.R. Rubenstein, and Grant S. Mastick. Dlx transcription factors regulate differentiation of dopaminergic neurons of the ventral thalamus. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 23: 107-120 (2003).

M. Swartz, Johann Eberhart, Grant S. Mastick, and Catherine E. Krull. Sparking new frontiers: using in vivo electroporation for genetic manipulations. Developmental Biology 233: 13-21 (2001).

Grant S. Mastick, Gracie L. Andrews, Nicole M. Davis, and Stephen S. Easter, Jr. “Pax-6 functions in boundary formation and axon guidance in the embryonic mouse forebrain.” Development 124: 1985-1997 (1997).

Grant S. Mastick and Stephen S. Easter, Jr. “Initial organization of neurons and tracts in the embryonic mouse fore- and midbrain.” Developmental Biology 173:79-94. (1996).

Additional Links

Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) Graduate program

University of Nevada, Reno
Biology Department m/s 314
Reno, NV 89557

email Dr. Grant Mastick

Office phone
775-784-6168
FAX number
775-784-1302

Currently in Mastick Lab::

Samuel McMahon, Biotechnology BS/MS program. Slits guide pioneer longitudinal axons.

Farnaz Shoja-Taheri, PhD student, CMB program. Novel Netrin receptors in axon guidance.

Brielle Bjorke, PhD student, Biochemistry. Novel Slit receptors in axon guidance.

Minkyung Kim, PhD. Postdoctoral fellow. Robo receptors in axon guidance.

Hilary Price, BS. Staff Research Assistant.

Andrea Ellingson, Biology undergraduate researcher.

Nicolas Manguso, Biochemistry undergraduate researcher.

Kevin Reeder, Biochemistry undergraduate researcher.

Philipe Mendonca, visiting undergraduate researcher, Brazil.


Recent Graduates:

W. Todd Farmer, PhD, Cell and Molecular Biology. 2008. Postdoctoral fellow, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Canada.

James P. Dugan, MS, Biology, 2008. Class of 2012, UN School of Medicine.

Andrea Stratton, Biochemistry undergraduate researcher, 2007-2008. University of Otago, NZ.

Laura Popko, BS, Biology, 2007. Research Assistant, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Victoria Lisowoski, Biology undergraduate researcher, 2005-2006. MS student, Boston University.

Michael Berberoglu, Biology Senior Thesis, 2005. PhD student, Neuroscience, UCSF.

Travis Hailstone, Biology Senior Thesis, 2005. Class of 2009, Touro School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV.

Feyza Nural, Biochemistry PhD, 2006. Postdoctoral fellow, Sun Health Research Center, Arizona.

Amy Altick, Biochemistry PhD, 2004. Postdoctoral fellow, Physiology and Cell Biology Department, University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Deanna Milton, Biotechnology BS/MS Degree, 2003. Research Assistant, Pharmacology Dept., UNR.

Gary T. Philips, Biotechnology BS/MS Degree, 2003. Ph.D. candidate, Neurobiology, UC Irvine.

Mika Garrett, Biochemistry B.S. 2002. Ph.D. Neuroscience candidate, Vanderbilt Univ.

Carrie N. Stair, MD, Biology Senior Thesis. Regulation of neurogenesis in the eye. Neurosurgery Resident, University of Utah.

Lucy Wong, Biochemistry Senior Thesis. Regulation of neurogenesis in the eye. Currently MD student, UNSOM.