Bryan Crawford

Research Interests:
Tissues are comprised of a population of cells embedded in a complex matrix of large glycoproteins that contribute significantly to both the mechanical and biological properties of the tissue. During embryonic development, and physiological as well as pathological tissue remodeling in adults, cells secrete proteases that degrade this extracellular matrix, allowing them to re-synthesize it in a new configuration. The regulation of this degradation and re-synthesis is of fundamental importance not only during embryonic development, but also the homeostasis of normal adult tissues, and its mis-regulation underlies a plethora of pathologies. Research in my lab utilizes the zebrafish embryo as a model system in which we can manipulate the molecules responsible for these activities and observe their activities using novel techniques such as in vivo zymography, as well as well-established molecular and cell-biological approaches.

Recent Publications:
Sariahmetoglu, M., Crawford, B.D., Leon, H., Sawicka, J., Li, L., Ballermann, B.J., Holmes, C., Berthiaume, L.G., Holt, A., Sawicki, G., and Schulz, R. (2007). Matrix metalloprotease-2 is regulated by phosphorylation. Accepted for publication in FASEB Journal, January 23, 2007.

Chow, A.K., Cena, J., El-Yazbi, A.F., Crawford, B.D., Holt, A., Cho, W.J., Daniel, E.E., and Schulz, R. (2007). Caveolin-1 inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity in the heart. Accepted for publication in the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, January 23, 2007.

Wohlgemuth, S.L., Crawford, B.D., and Pilgrim, D.B. (2007). The myosin co-chaperone UNC-45 is required for skeletal and cardiac muscle function in zebrafish. Developmental Biology 303:483-492.

Crawford, B.D. and Pilgrim, D.B. (2005). Ontogeny and Regulation of MMP activity in the Zebrafish Embryo by in vitro and in vivo Zymography. Developmental Biology 286:405-414.

Manning, A.G., Crawford, B.D., Waskiewicz, A.J. and Pilgrim, D.P. (2004). An unc-119 homologue required for normal development of the zebrafish nervous system. Genesis 40:223–230.

Crawford, B. D., Henry, C. A., Clason, T., Becker, A. L. and Hille, M. B. (2003). Activity and Distribution of Paxillin, FAK, and Cadherin Indicate Cooperative Roles during Zebrafish Morphogenesis. Molecular Biology of the Cell 14(8):3065-81.

Henry, C. A., Crawford, B. D., Yan, Y-L., Postlethwait, J., Cooper, M. S., and Hille, M. B. (2001). Roles for Zebrafish Focal Adhesion Kinase in Notochord and Somite Morphogenesis. Developmental Biology 240:474–487

Current Research Students/Projects:
Natalie Harris, B.Sc.: Effects of altered gravitation on the expression of proteins of the ECM remodeling system.
Jonathan Keow: In vivo metalloproteinase activity profiling with UV-activated crosslinking compounds.
Kurt Herrmann: In vivo and differential in vivo zymography using fluorogenic MMP substrates of defined proteolytic susceptibility.
Rachel Wyatt: Bioinformatic identification and molecular isolation of genes encoding ECM remodeling proteins in the zebrafish genome.


	B. D. Crawford, B.Sc. (Alberta), M.Sc., (UVic), Ph.D. (Simon Fraser) Developmental biology, morphogenesis, extracellular matrix dynamics, metalloproteinase regulation. Teaching Responsibilities: Biology 2033 (Introductory Biochemistry) Biology 4162 (Developmental Biology) TBD (Embryology)
Research Interests: Tissues are comprised of a population of cells embedded in a complex matrix of large glycoproteins that contribute significantly to both the mechanical and biological properties of the tissue. During embryonic development, and physiological as well as pathological tissue remodeling in adults, cells secrete proteases that degrade this extracellular matrix, allowing them to re-synthesize it in a new configuration. The regulation of this degradation and re-synthesis is of fundamental importance not only during embryonic development, but also the homeostasis of normal adult tissues, and its mis-regulation underlies a plethora of pathologies. Research in my lab utilizes the zebrafish embryo as a model system in which we can manipulate the molecules responsible for these activities and observe their activities using novel techniques such as in vivo zymography, as well as well-established molecular and cell-biological approaches. Recent Publications: Sariahmetoglu, M., Crawford, B.D., Leon, H., Sawicka, J., Li, L., Ballermann, B.J., Holmes, C., Berthiaume, L.G., Holt, A., Sawicki, G., and Schulz, R. (2007). Matrix metalloprotease-2 is regulated by phosphorylation. Accepted for publication in FASEB Journal, January 23, 2007. Chow, A.K., Cena, J., El-Yazbi, A.F., Crawford, B.D., Holt, A., Cho, W.J., Daniel, E.E., and Schulz, R. (2007). Caveolin-1 inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity in the heart. Accepted for publication in the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, January 23, 2007. Wohlgemuth, S.L., Crawford, B.D., and Pilgrim, D.B. (2007). The myosin co-chaperone UNC-45 is required for skeletal and cardiac muscle function in zebrafish. Developmental Biology 303:483-492. Crawford, B.D. and Pilgrim, D.B. (2005). Ontogeny and Regulation of MMP activity in the Zebrafish Embryo by in vitro and in vivo Zymography. Developmental Biology 286:405-414. Manning, A.G., Crawford, B.D., Waskiewicz, A.J. and Pilgrim, D.P. (2004). An unc-119 homologue required for normal development of the zebrafish nervous system. Genesis 40:223–230. Crawford, B. D., Henry, C. A., Clason, T., Becker, A. L. and Hille, M. B. (2003). Activity and Distribution of Paxillin, FAK, and Cadherin Indicate Cooperative Roles during Zebrafish Morphogenesis. Molecular Biology of the Cell 14(8):3065-81. Henry, C. A., Crawford, B. D., Yan, Y-L., Postlethwait, J., Cooper, M. S., and Hille, M. B. (2001). Roles for Zebrafish Focal Adhesion Kinase in Notochord and Somite Morphogenesis. Developmental Biology 240:474–487 Current Research Students/Projects: Natalie Harris, B.Sc.: Effects of altered gravitation on the expression of proteins of the ECM remodeling system. Jonathan Keow: In vivo metalloproteinase activity profiling with UV-activated crosslinking compounds. Kurt Herrmann: In vivo and differential in vivo zymography using fluorogenic MMP substrates of defined proteolytic susceptibility. Rachel Wyatt: Bioinformatic identification and molecular isolation of genes encoding ECM remodeling proteins in the zebrafish genome.