Vassar College Biology : Jennifer A. Kennell

Jennifer A. Kennell

Assistant Professor of Biology

Olmsted Hall Room 137
Phone: 845-437-7438

B.A. 1998 Biology, Luther College, Decorah, IA
Ph.D. 2005 Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Research Interests

The aim of my research is to better understand cell-cell communication and the regulation of cellular differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis in animals. My graduate work focused on the regulation of mouse mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and apoptosis by Wnt signaling. Wnts are a family of highly conserved, secreted glycoproteins that act at a short range to regulate various processes during animal development. Wnt signaling is essential for animal development and seems to be highly conserved from hydra to humans. During my postdoctoral fellowship I continued my study of Wnt signaling and apoptosis using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model system to identify and characterize novel regulators of the pathways.

Current projects in my lab are centered on the characterization of miR-8, a microRNA I identified in a genetic screen as a negative regulator of Wnt signaling in flies. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that silence gene expression by binding to specific mRNAs and preventing translation or decreasing mRNA stability. I am currently interested in characterizing the phenotype of flies lacking miR-8 and identifying the relevant targets that are responsible for the mutant phenotype. In addition, I plan to study the expression pattern of miR-8 throughout fly development and identify signaling pathways that regulate miR-8 expression. We can extend these studies to other species of Drosophila and other insects to study the evolutionary roles miR-8 may play in insect development. Finally, I plan to continue a genetic screen to identify other novel regulators of Wnt signaling and/or apoptosis. We will characterize these novel regulators using genetic tools available in Drosophila, as well as cell culture based approaches.

Teaching Interests

Cell Biology, Genetics, Stem cell biology, Cell signaling, RNA interference, Molecular Basis of Disease

In Fall 2008 I will be teaching Principles of Genetics (238). In Winter 2009 I will teach a section of Introduction to Biological Investigation (106) and Advanced Topics in Cell Biology (323), which will focus on critical reading of primary research articles on selected topics relating to signal transduction in animals.

Selected Publications

Kennell, J.A., I. Gerin, O.A. MacDougald, K.M. Cadigan (Revised manuscript in review) The microRNA miR-8 is a conserved negative regulator of Wnt signaling.
Kennell, J.A. and Cadigan KM. 2008. APC and -catenin degradation. Chapter in APC Proteins, eds. Nathke IS, McCartney BM (Landis Bioscience, Austin).
Kennell, J.A. and O.A. MacDougald. 2005. Wnt signaling inhibits adipogenesis through -catenin dependent and independent mechanisms. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 25: 24004-24010.
Kennell, J.A., E.E. O’Leary, B.M. Gummow, G.D. Hammer, and O.A. MacDougald. 2003. T-Cell factor 4N (TCF-4N), a novel isoform of mouse TCF-4, synergizes with -catenin to coactivate C/EBP and Steroidogenic Factor 1 transcription factors. Molecular and Cellular Biology. 23: 5366-5375.
Longo K.A., J. A. Kennell, M.J. Ochocinska, S.E. Ross, W.S. Wright, and O.A. MacDougald. 2002. Wnt signaling protects 3T3-L1 preadipocytes from apoptosis through induction of insulin-like growth factors. Journal of Biological Chemistry 277: 38239-38244.
Douglas, K.R., M.L. Brinkmeier, J.A. Kennell, P. Eswara, T.A. Harrison, A.I. Patrianakos, B.S. Sprecher, M.A. Potok, R.H. Lyons Jr, O.A. MacDougald, and S.A. Camper. 2001. Identification of members of the Wnt signaling pathway in the embryonic pituitary gland. Mammalian Genome 12: 843-851.