Alyson Elise Fournier, PhD
Alyson Fournier's research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating axon degeneration and regeneration. Neurons in the central nervous system that are injured following traumatic injury or in neurodegenerative conditions fail to repair spontaneously. The abortive regenerative response can be attributed both to a failure of injured neurons to initiate a growth program and to the inhibitory growth environment. The aim of Fournier's research program is to develop a better understanding of the molecular signalling in neurons following traumatic injury or upon exposure to inflammatory insults such as those occurring in multiple sclerosis. Her current projects are focusing on the role of miRNAs and 14-3-3 adaptor proteins in neuronal responses to injury. A fuller understanding of the neuronal response to injury will be used to develop strategies to promote neuroprotection and neuronal regeneration.
Ong Tone S., Dayanandan B, Fournier, A.E*., Mandato, C.A.*. (2010) GSK3 Regulates Mitotic Chromosomal Alignment through CRMP4. PLoS ONE 5(12): e14345. * Co-corresponding authors.
Kent, C., Shimada, T., Ferraro, G., Rodriguez, S., Yam, P., Ritter, B., McPherson, P., Charron, F., Kennedy, T., Fournier, A.E. (2010) 14-3-3 proteins regulate growth cone responses through PKA. J. Neurosci. 30(42): 14059-14067
McKerracher, L., Fehlings, M., Fournier, A., Ong Tone, S. (2010 - In Press). Targeting Rho inactivation to promote regeneration and treat spinal cord injury: Bench to bedside translational medicine.. In: Essential of Spinal Cord Injury, Thieme Medical Publishers Inc. NY, NY.
Thomas, R., Favell, K., Morante-Redolat, J.M., Kent, K., Wright, M., Poole, M., Daignault, K., Fournier, A.E., Pérez-Tur, J., Barker, P.A. (2010) LGI1 is a Novel Nogo Receptor Ligand that Blocks Myelin-based Growth Inhibition. Journal of Neuroscience: In press
Alabed, Y.Z., Pool, M., Ong Tone, S., Sutherland, C., Fournier, A.E. (2010) GSK3b regulates myelin dependent axon outgrowth inhibition through CRMP4. Journal of Neuroscience: In press
O'Connor, K.C., Lopez-Amaya, C., Gagne, D., Moore, N.H., Kennedy, J., Krupp, L., Tenembaum, S., Ness, J., Belman, A., Boiko, A., Bykova, O., Mah, J., Stoian, C., Waubant, E., Kremenchutzky, M., Ruggieri, M., Bardini, M.R., Rensel, M., Hahn, J., Weinstock-Guttman, B., Yeh, A., Farrell, K., Freedman, M., Livanainen, M., Bhan, V., Dilenge, M., Hancock, M.A., Gano, D., Fattahie, R., Kopel, L., Fournier, A.E., Hafler, D.A., Moscarello, M., Banwell, B., Bar-Or, A. (2010) Anti-myelin antibodies modulate clinical expression of childhood multiple sclerosis. J. Neuroimmunol., doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.02.019
Nash, M., Pribiag, H., Fournier, A.E., Jacobson, C. (2009) Central Nervous System Regeneration Inhibitors and their Intracellular Substrates. Mol. Neurobiology DOI 10.1007/s12035-009-8083-y
Pool, M., Niino, Rambaldi, I., Robson, K., Bar-Or, A., Fournier, A.E. (2009) Myelin regulates immune cell adhesion and motility. Exp. Neurol. 217(2):371-7
Moore, S.W., Correia, J.P., Lai Wing Sun, K., Pool, M., Fournier, A.E., Kennedy, T.E.. (2008) Rho inhibition recruits DCC to the neuronal plasma membrane and enhances axon chemoattraction to netrin 1. Development. 135(17):2855-64
Costantino, S., Kent, C.B., Godin, A.G., Kennedy, T.E., Wiseman, P.W., Fournier, A.E. (2008). Semi-Automated Quantification of filopodial dynamics. J. Neurosci. Methods 171(1): 165-173
Pool, M., Thiemann, J., Bar-Or, A., Fournier, A.E. (2008) NeuriteTracer: A novel ImageJ plugin for automated quantification of neurite outgrowth. J. Neurosci. Methods 168(1):134-139.
Alabed, Y.Z., Pool, M., OngTone, S., Fournier, A.E. (2007) Identification of CRMP4 as a convergent regulator of axon outgrowth inhibition. J. Neurosci. 27, 1702-1711.
Darenfed, H., Dayandana, B., Hsieh, S. H.-K., Fournier, A.E., Mandato. C.A. (2007) Molecular Characterization of the Effects of Y-27632. Cytoskeleton and Cell Motility. 64, 97-109.
Niino, M., Bodner, C., Simard, M.-L., Alatab, S., Gano, D., Kim, H., Trigueiro, M., Racicot, D., Guérette, C., Mainville, M., Antel, J.P., Fournier, A.E., GrandMaison, F., Bar-Or, A. (2006) Natalizumab Effects on Immune Cell Responses in Multiple Sclerosis: The Expected and Less Expected. Ann. Neurol. 59:748754.
Alabed, Y.Z., Grados-Munro, E., Ferraro, G.B., Hsieh, S.H.-K., Fournier, A.E. (2006) Neuronal responses to myelin are mediated by ROCK. J. Neurochem. 96, 1616-1625
Hsieh, S. H.-K., Ferraro, G.B., Fournier, A.E. (2006) Myelin-associated inhibitors regulate cofilin phosphorylation and neuronal inhibition through Lim kinase and Slingshot phosphatase. J. Neurosci. 26(3), 1006-1015.
