David H. Hall

The soil nematode Caenorhabdidis elegans is a model system used to study the genetic control of cellular development. Our laboratory specializes in ultrastructural studies of the nervous system. We use serial thin sections, electron microscopy, and immunocytochemistry as primary tools to follow the development of identified neurons, particularly their axon outgrowth and synaptic connectivity.

We host the Center for C. elegans Anatomy, supported by NIH RR, and train students in anatomical methods for this system. Members of the lab are authoring the website www.WormAtlas.org. It displays nematode anatomy in great detail through multiple applications including Slideable Worm, a Handbook of all cells and tissues, a Glossary, and selected html texts of classic papers.

Wired Worm is a project aiming to complete the wiring diagram for the male adult nematode, working with Scott Emmons (Mol. Genetics, AECOM). SuperWorm will produce a 3D online browser for nematode anatomy, working with the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center.

Rowland, A.M., Olsen, J.G., Richmond , J.E.,Hall, D.H.and Bamber, B.A. (2006) Presynaptic terminals independently regulate synaptic clustering and autophagy of GABA A receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans. J. Neuroscience 26: 1711-20.

Chen, B., Hall, D.H. and Chklovskii, D.B. (2006) Wiring optimization can relate neuronal structure and function. PNAS 103: 4723-4728.

Kao, G., Huang, C-c., Hedgecock, E.M., Hall, D.H. and Wadsworth , W. (2006) Role of the laminin b subunit in C. elegans basement membrane function and development. Dev. Biol. 290: 211-219.

Altun, Z., Lints, R. and Hall, D.H. (2006) Nematode neurons. Anatomy and anatomical methods in Caenorhabditis elegans. Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 69: 1-35.

Yochem, J., Bell , L.R., Hedgecock, E.M., Hall, D.H. and Herman, R.K. (2005) Isopentenyl-diphosphate isomerase is essential for viability of Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol. Genet. & Genomics 273: 158-66.

Shemer, G., Suissa, M., Kolotuev, I. , Nguyen, K.C.Q., Hall, D.H., and Podbilewicz, B. (2004) EFF-1 is sufficient to initiate and execute tissue-specific cell fusion in C. elegans. Current Biology 14: 1587-91.

Gobel, V., Barrett, P.L., Hall, D.H. and Fleming, J.T. (2004) Lumen morphogenesis in C. elegans requires the membrane-cytoskeleton linker erm-1. Developmental Cell 6: 865-873.

Berry, K., Bulow, H.E., Hall, D.H. and Hobert, O. (2003) Intracellular tube formation requires a C. elegans CLIC ion channel homolog. Science 302: 2134-37.

Melendez, A., Talloczy, Z., Seaman, M., Eskelinen, E-L., Hall, D.H., and Levine, B. (2003) Autophagy genes are essential for dauer development and lifespan extension in C. elegans. Science 301: 1387-91.

Huang, C-c., Hall, D.H., Hedgecock, E.M., Kao, G., Karantza, V., Vogel, B., Hutter, H., Chisholm, A.D.,Yurchenco, P.D., and Wadsworth, W.G. (2003) Laminin ( subunits and their role in C. elegans development. Development 130: 3343-3358.

Starich, T., Miller, A., Nguyen, R.L., Hall, D.H. and Shaw, J.E. (2003) The C. elegans innexin gene product INX-3 is localized to gap junctions and is essential for embryonic development. Dev. Biol. 256: 403-417.

Herndon, L.A., Schmeissner, P.J., Dudaroneck, J.M., Brown, P.A., Listner, K.M., Paupard, M.C., Hall, D.H., and Driscoll, M. (2002) Stochastic and genetic factors influence tissue-specific decline in ageing C. elegans. Nature 419: 788-794.

Aurelio, O., Hall, D.H., and Hobert, O. (2002) Immunoglobulin-domain proteins required for maintenance of ventral nerve cord organization. Science 295: 686-690.

Rolls, M.M., Hall, D.H., Victor, M., Stelzer, E.H.K., and Rappaport, T.A. (2002) Targeting of rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane proteins and ribosomes in invertebrate neurons. Mol. Biol. of the Cell 13: 1778-1791.

Nass, R., Hall, D.H., Miller, D.M. and Blakeley, R.D. (2002) Neurotoxin-induced degeneration of dopamine neurons in C. elegans. PNAS 99: 3264-3269.