Teaching

Research

Selected Publications

Contact Information
Office: Swords 233
Email:cconstan@holycross.edu
Phone: (508) 793-2212 (Office and Labs)
(508) 793-2656 (Department)
FAX: (508) 793-2696

Last updated September 15, 2007

Teaching -- Courses

Fall Semester:

• Topics in Biology (Biology 114) "Biology and Contemporary Society"
• General Biology 1 (Biology 120) Laboratory

Spring Semester:

• Molecular Genetics

Research

My research focuses on understanding the molecular basis of biological rhythms. Virtually all organisms have adapted to life on earth by having an internal timer that controls rhythmic behavioral, biochemical, and physiological processes, and confers a circadian period of about a day.

My primary research interest is to determine how the molecules that comprise the central clock mechanism ultimately lead to regulation of rhythmic behaviors. Studies in my lab will focus on two major questions:

• How do molecular circadian clocks that are distributed in tissues in organs throughout an organism contribute to a rhythmic behavior?
• What molecular mechanisms regulate rhythmic physiology and behavior at the cellular and organismal levels?

The model system that I use in my research is the frog, Xenopus tropicalis, an organism that has recently been adopted for genetic approaches. To address my research questions, I employ molecular genetic and bioinformatics techniques (database searches, sequence analysis, PCR, mutagenesis, subcloning, Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization), Xenopus transgenesis (introduction of transgenes into animals; animal husbandry; genotyping) and I am currently developing a behavioral assay in order to monitor the effects of the transgenes that are introduced in the animal on circadian locomotor activity of tadpoles. These techniques include a broad spectrum of approaches, from the study of molecules to analysis of the whole organism, and may be of interest to students who have an interest in cell biology, genetics, biochemistry and/or cellular and molecular neurobiology.

Students who are potentially interested in pursuing a research project in my laboratory may contact me to learn more about my research.

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Publications

Constance CM, Fan JY, Preuss F, Green CB, Price JL. (2005 May 20; Epub 2005 Mar 31) The circadian clock-containing photoreceptor cells in Xenopus laevis express several isoforms of casein kinase I. Brain Res Mol Brain Res.: 136(1-2):199-211. DOWNLOAD PDF

Constance CM, Green CB, Tei H, Block GD. (2002 Oct.) Bulla gouldiana period exhibits unique regulation at the mRNA and protein levels.  J Biol Rhythms. 17(5):413-27. DOWNLOAD PDF

Constance CM, Morgan JI 4th, Umek RM. (1996 July) C/EBPalpha regulation of the growth-arrest-associated gene gadd45.  Mol Cell Biol:. 16(7):3878-83. DOWNLOAD PDF

Shugart EC, Levenson AS, Constance CM, Umek RM. (1995 Dec.)  Differential expression of gas and gadd genes at distinct growth arrest points during adipocyte development.  Cell Growth Differ.: 6(12):1541-7. DOWNLOAD PDF

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