Karen Greif
Education
A.B. in Human Biology, Brown University, 1973
Ph.D. in Psychobiology and Biochemistry, California Institute of Technology, 1978
Research Interests
I am studying the roles of proteins involved in synaptic transmission during early neurite development in vitro, using rat sympathetic neurons and embryonic chicken neurons as model systems. We are especially interested in understanding why these proteins are expressed in developing neurons significantly before synaptogenesis begins, and hypothesize that these proteins may play roles in neurite outgrowth and branching. Monoclonal antibodies are used as probes for cell surface and vesicular antigens, using immunocytochemical methods. We also use fusion proteins that couple vesicle-associated proteins to the fluorescent marker, YFP, via a gene construct containing the sequence encoding our protein of interest along with the sequence for YFP. Cells transfected with the construct over-express the fusion protein and transport it similarly to native proteins. RNA interference is used to knock down protein levels. Both approaches allow us to investigate the role of synaptic proteins in neuronal morphology.
In addition to my research in cellular neurobiology, I also maintain an active interest in science policy issues. A book exploring the interactions between science and policy in the life sciences has been published by MIT Press.
Rat sympathetic neurons labeled with synaptotagmin-YFP in vivo after 8 hr in culture. Protein is seen concentrated in cell bodies, growth cones and varicosities. Many short branches are observed, suggesting that overexpression of synaptotagmin increases branching. The fusion protein is transported as soon as neurites develop (from Narayan and Greif, 2004).
Courses Taught
Biology 101: Introductory Biology I
Biology 103: Basic Concepts in Biology
Biology 210: Biology and Public Policy
Biology 340: Cell Biology
Biology 364: Developmental Neurobiology
Biology 395: Senior Seminar in Cell Biology: Cancer
Biology 396: Topics in Neural and Behavioral Sciences
Biology 398: Senior Seminar in Science and Society
Some More Recent Publications
Articles
- Greif, K.F. 1997. Bringing science policy into the classroom: a model course, Politics and the Life Sciences 16 (1): 131-133.
- Greif, K.F. 2001. 3’, 5’-cyclic adenosine monophosphate regulates expression of synaptotagmin in neonatal sympathetic ganglia in vitro, J. Neurobiol., 46: 281-288.
- Greif , K.F. 2003. Academics are teachers and colleagues too (letter), Nature 421: 13.
- Narayan, S. and K.F. Greif, 2004. Transport of a synaptotagmin-YFP fusion protein in sympathetic neurons during early neurite outgrowth in vitro after transfection in vivo. J. Neurosci. Methods 133: 91-98. (published online 23 December 2003)
Greif, K.F. 2007. Can we model a cell? Emergent appraoches to biological research. Soundings 90:91-101 (publsihed on-line Dec 2007). - Stearns, C.R.*, S. Gu and K.F. Greif. 2005. Differential transport of synaptic proteins in sympathetic neurons in vitro, Neurosci. Abstr. , Program No. 713.2
Greif, K.F., F. Badiane*, K. Krasnec*, S. Chan*, S. Jackson* and N. Asabere*. 2007. Knockdown of synaptotagmin by RNAi influences axon outgrowth in sympathetic neurons in vitro, American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting Program #1277.
*Bryn Mawr Undergraduate
Books
- National Research Council (Committee on Dimensions, Causes and Implications of Recent Trends in the Careers of Life Scientists). 1998. Trends in the Early Careers of Life Scientists, Washington DC, National Academy Press, 178 pp
- Greif, K.F. and J. F. Merz. 2007. Current Controversies in the Biological Sciences: Case Studies of Policy Challenges from New Technologies, Cambridge, MA, MIT Press, 476 pp.
