David Kingsley
Academic Appointments
- Professor, Developmental Biology
- Member, Bio-X
Contact Information
- Academic
Offices
Administrative Contact Flora Freitas Administrative assistant Tel Work 650 725-7658
Professional Snapshot
Administrative Appointments
- Director, NIH Center of Excellence in Genomic Science at Stanford: The Genomic Basis of Vertebrate Diversity (2007 - 2012)
Honors and Awards
- Conklin Medal, Society for Developmental Biology (2009)
- Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2005)
- Researcher, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (1997 to present)
- Scholar in Biomedical Research, Lucille P. Markey Foundation (1989 to 1996)
Professional Education
| Ph.D.: | MIT, Biology (1986) |
| B.S.: | Yale, Biology (1981) |
Postdoctoral Advisees
Terence Capellini , Felicity Jones , Philip Reno , Haili Zhang
Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations
Community & International Work
Web Site Links
Scientific Focus
Research Interests
The skeleton is one of the most highly patterned structures in higher organisms. Although built of only a few tissues, these tissues are molded into beautiful shapes and sizes that illustrate many basic problems in development and vertebrate evolution. The skeleton is also critical to human health, with diseases like osteoarthritis and osteoporosis afflicting a large fraction of the population. To better understand the genetic mechanisms that create, pattern, and repair skeletal tissues, we are using modern genetic approaches to study interesting skeletal traits in humans, mice, and stickleback fish.
We have used high resolution linkage mapping to isolate several classical mouse skeletal mutations. These studies have shown that secreted signaling molecules called bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play a key role in controlling formation of both bones and joints during embryonic development. Each of these genes is expressed in strikingly specific patterns that prefigure the formation of particular bones and joints. We have also developed methods to identify the regulatory elements responsible for patterning the expression of BMPs during vertebrate skeletal development. These studies are revealing how the body creates, shapes, and maintains bones and joints in order to generate a functional skeleton.
We have also used mouse genetics to isolate a completely new gene controlling susceptibility to arthritis after birth. This gene encodes a highly conserved multiple pass transmembrane protein found only in vertebrates. Biochemical experiments show that this molecule acts by stimulating transport of the same small molecule that is used in “tartar control” toothpaste to block unwanted mineral deposition. Mutations in the gene reduce the mineralization inhibitor, leading to ectopic formation of crystals in joints. Similar ectopic mineral deposition is seen in a large fraction of the elderly human population, and may be an important risk factor for human...
Publications
- cis-Regulatory changes in Kit ligand expression and parallel evolution of pigmentation in sticklebacks and humans. Cell. 2007; (6): 1179-89
- Parallel genetic origins of pelvic reduction in vertebrates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006; (37): 13753-8
- Widespread parallel evolution in sticklebacks by repeated fixation of Ectodysplasin alleles. Science. 2005; (5717): 1928-33
- Genetic and developmental basis of evolutionary pelvic reduction in threespine sticklebacks. Nature. 2004; (6984): 717-23
- BMP receptor signaling is required for postnatal maintenance of articular cartilage. PLoS Biol. 2004; (11): e355
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