Biography

James F. Martin graduated magna cum laude in chemistry from Fordham University, Bronx, New York, and earned his M.D. from the University of Texas-Houston Medical School, where he also did a residency in general surgery. He then earned his Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Texas-Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Prior to coming to IBT in 1996, Dr. Martin was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.  He is an associate professor, a member of the Center for Cancer Biology and Nutrition at IBT, and the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center.  Dr. Martin is Director of the Transgenic Models Core of the System Health Science Center.

Research

The focus of my lab is to understand the molecular mechanisms controlling cell growth and differentiation in the context of vertebrate embryogenesis and thus to advance our understanding of the causes of birth defects. Using the mouse as a model system, we study the role of homeobox genes in cell growth and differentiation within the craniofacial skeleton. Our experimental approaches include creating targeted gene mutations through "knock-out" technology, as well as other transgenic techniques to express genes of interest in the mouse. A related interest of our lab is to understand how environmental factors such as teratogens interact with the genome to generate congenital defects.

Representative Publications Prior to 2003

Martin, J.F., Schwarz, J.J., and Olson, E.N. (1993) Myocyte enhancer factor (MEF) 2C: A tissue-restricted member of the MEF-2 family of transcription factors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90, 5282-5286.

Martin, J.F., Miano, J.M., Hustad, C.M., Copeland, N.G., Jenkins, N.A., and Olson, E.N. (1994) A Mef2 gene that generates a muscle-specific isoform via alternative mRNA splicing. Mol. Cell. Biol. 14, 1647-1656.

Martin, J.F., Bradley, A., and Olson, E.N. (1995) The paired-like homeobox gene MHox is required for early events of skeletogenesis in multiple lineages. Genes. Dev. 9, 1237-1249.

Lu, M-F., Cheng, H-T., Lacy, A.R., Kern, M.J., Argao, E.A., Potter, S.S., Olson, E.N., and Martin, J.F. (1999) Paired-related homeobox genes cooperate in handplate and hindlimb zeugopod morphogenesis. Devel. Biol. 205, 145-157.

Lu, M-F., Cheng, H-T., Kern, M.J., Potter, S.S., Tran, B., Diekwisch, T.G.H., and Martin, J.F. (1999) prx-1 functions cooperatively with another paired-related homeobox gene, prx-2, to maintain cell fates within the craniofacial mesenchyme. Development 126, 495-504.

Lu, M-F., Pressman, C., Dyer, R., Johnson, R.L., and Martin, J.F. (1999) Function of Rieger syndrome gene in left-right asymmetry and craniofacial development. Nature 401: 276-278.

Martin, J. F., and Olson, E. N. (2000). Identification of a prx1 limb enhancer. Genesis 26, 225-9.

Mallo, M., Schrewe, H., Martin, J.F., Olson, E.N., and Ohnemus, S. (2000) Assembling a functional tympanic membrane: signals from the external acoustic meatus coordinate development of the malleal manubrium. Development. 127, 4127-4136.

Lewis, P., Dunn, M., McMahon, J.A., Logan, M., Martin, J.F., St.-Jacques, B., and McMahon, A.P. (2001) Cholesterol modification of sonic hedgehog is required for long range activity and effective modulation of signaling by Ptc1. Cell, 105, 599-612.

Liu, C., Liu, W., Lu, M.F., Brown, N. and Martin, J.F. (2001) Regulation of left-right asymmetry by thresholds of pitx2c activity. Development 128: 2039-2048.

Logan M., Martin J.F., Nagy A., Lobe C., Olson E.N., and Tabin C.J. (2002) Expression of Cre recombinase in the developing mouse limb bud driven by a Prxl enhancer. Genesis. 33:77-80.

Liu, C., Liu, W., Palie, J, Lu, M.F., Brown N, and Martin, J.F. (2002) Pitx2c patterns anterior myocardium and aortic arch vessels and is required for local cell movement into atrioventricular cushions. Development 129: 5081-5091.

Akiyama, H., Chaboissier, M.C., Martin, J.F.,. Schedl, A., and de Crombrugghe, B. (2002) The transcription factor Sox9 has essential roles in successive steps of the chondrocyte differentiation pathway and is required for expression of Sox5 and Sox6. Genes Dev. 16: 2813-2828.

Publications 2003 

Liu, W., Selever, J., Lu, M.F., and Martin, J.F. (2003) Genetic dissection of Pitx2 in craniofacial morphogenesis uncovers new functions in branchial arch morphogenesis, late aspects of tooth morphogenesis, and cell migration.  Development 130:  6375-6385.

Publications 2004

Liu, W., Selever, J., Wang, D., Lu, M.F., Moses, K.A., Schwartz, R.J. and Martin, J.F. (2004) Bmp4 signaling is required for outflow tract septation and branchial arch artery remodeling. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 101: 4489-4494.

Ihida-Stansbury, K., McKean, D. M., Gebb, S. A., Martin, J. F., Stevens, T., Nemenoff, R., Akeson, A., Vaughn, J. and Jones, P. L. (2004). Paired-related homeobox gene prx1 is required for pulmonary vascular development. Circ. Res. 94, 1507-14.

Selever, J., Liu, W., Behringer, R., and Martin, J.F. (2004) Bmp4 in limb bud mesoderm regulates digit pattern by controlling AER development. Devel. Biol. 276: 268-279.

Lee, C.T., Li, L., Takamoto, N., Martin, J.F. DeMayo, F.J., Tsai, M.J. and Tsai, S.Y. (2004) The Nuclear Orphan Receptor COUP-TFII is Required for Limb and Skeletal Muscle Development.  Mol. Cell. Biol. 24: 10835-10843.

Publications 2005

Liu, W. Sun, X., Braut, A., Mishina, Y., Behringer, R.R., Mina, M., and Martin, J.F. (2005) Distinct functions for Bmp signaling in lip and palate fusion in mice. Development 132: 1463-1461.

Liu, W., Selever, J., Murali, D., Sun, X., Brugger, S.M., Ma, L., Schwartz, R.J., Maxson, R., Furuta, Y. and Martin, J.F. (2005) Threshold-specific requirements for Bmp4 in mandibular development. Devel. Biol. 283:282-93.

Ma, L., and Martin, J. F. (2005) Generation of a Bmp2 conditional null allele. Genesis (2005) 42: 203-6.

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