Juan L. Bruses

Ph.D., Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires (UBA)

Postdoctoral Training, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut (UCONN); Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)

Dr. Bruses research focuses on the role of cell adhesion molecules in neural development. His interest focuses on the role of the cadherins and immunoglobulins superfamilies of adhesion molecules on the formation of synaptic contacts and on the changes of these molecules throughout evolution.

BIOL 275          Cell Biology

BIOL 317          Introduction to Neuroscience

BIOL 355          Molecular Biology of the Cell

BIOL 370          Research in Biology

BIOL 424          Neurobiology

BIOL 460          Coordinating Seminar in Biology (Capstone Research Section)

In peer-reviewed journals

Polanco J, Reyes-Vigil F, Weisberg S, Dhimitruka I, Bruses JL (2021) Differential spatiotemporal expression of type I and type II cadherins associated with the segmentation of the central nervous system and formation of brain nuclei in the developing mouse. Front Mol Neurosci 14: 633719

Daghsni M, Rima M, Lopez A, Fajloun Z, Ronjat M, Bruses JL, M’Rad R, De Waard M (2018) Autism throughout genetics: perusal of the implication of ion channels. Brain and Behavior 3: 1-18.

Rima M, Daghsni M, Lopez A, Fajloun Z, Lefrancois L, Dunach M, Mori Y, Merle P, Bruses JL, De Waard M, Ronjat M. (2017) Down-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by Cacnb4. Mol Biol Cell 

Rima M, Daghsni M, De Waard S, Gaborit N, Fajloun Z, Ronjat M, Mori Y, Bruses JL, De Waard M (2017) The β4 subunit of the voltage-gated calcium channel (Cacnb4) regulates the rate of cell proliferation in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. Internat. J. Biochem Cell Biol 89:57-70

Rima M, Daghsni M, M’Rad R, Fajloun Z, Bruses JL, Ronjat M, De Waard M (2016). Protein partners of the calcium channel beta subunit highlight new cellular functions. Biochemical J 473:1831-1844

Rousset M, Cens T, Menard C, Bowerman M, Bellis M, Bruses JL, Raoul C, Scamps F, and Charnet P (2015). Regulation of neuronal high-voltage activated CaV2 Ca2+ channels by the small GTPase RhoA. Neuropharmacology 97:201-209

Bruses JL (2013) Cell surface localization of alpha3 beta4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors is regulated by N-cadherin homotypic binding and actomyosin contractility. PLOS One 8:e62435

Arrode-Bruses G, Bruses JL (2012) Maternal immune activation by poly(I:C) induces expression of the cytokines IL-1beta and IL-13, chemokine MCP-1, and colony stimulating factor VEGF in fetal mouse brain.  J Neuroinflammation 9:83-98

Flannery R, Bruses JL (2012) N-cadherin induces partial differentiation of presynaptic terminals in heterologous cultures of brain stem cholinergic neurons and CHO cells.  Frontiers in Neuroscience 4 (article 6): 1-11

Zelenchuck TA and Bruses JL (2011) In vivo labeling of zebrafish spinal cord motor neurons using an mnx1 enhancer and Gal4/UAS. Genesis 49:564-554

Bruses JL (2011). N-cadherin regulates primary motor axons growth and branching during zebrafish embryonic development. J Comparative Neurology 519:1797-1814

Bruses JL (2010) Identification of gene transcripts expressed by postsynaptic neurons during the initiation of synapse formation encoding cell surface proteins with presumptive synaptogenic activity. Synapse 64:47-60

Marrs GS, Theisen CS, Bruses JL (2009) N-cadherin modulates voltage-activated calcium influx via RhoA, p120-catenin, and myosin-actin interaction.  Molecular Cellular Neuroscience 40:390-400

Rubio ME, Curcio C, Chauvet N, Bruses JL (2005) Assembly of the N-cadherin adhesion complex during synapse formation involves uncoupling of p120-catenin and association with presenilin 1. Molecular Cellular Neuroscience 30:118-130

Tricaud N, Perrin C, Bruses JL, Rutishuaser U, (2005) Adherens junctions in myelinating Schwann cells stabilize Schmidt-Lanterman incisures via recruitment of p120 catenin to E-cadherin.  J Neuroscience 25:3259-3269

Piccoli G, Rutishauser U, Bruses JL (2004) N-cadherin juxtamembrane domain modulates voltage-gated Ca2+ current via RhoA GTPase and Rho associated kinase. J Neuroscience 24:10918-10923

Perrier AL, Tabar V, Barberi T, Rubio ME, Bruses JL, Topf N, Harrison NL, Studer L (2004) Derivation of midbrain dopamine neurons from human embryonic stem cells. Proceedings National Academy Science USA 101:12543-12548

Barberi T, Klivenyi P, Calingasan NY, Lee H, Kawamata H, Loonam K, Perrier AL, Bruses JL, Rubio ME, Topf N, Tabar V, Harrison NL, Beal MF, Moore MA, Studer L (2003) Neural subtype specification of fertilization and nuclear transfer embryonic stem cells and application in parkinsonian mice. Nature Biotechnology 21:1200-1207

Bruses JL, Chauvet N, Rubio ME, Rutishauser U (2002) Polysialic acid and the formation of oculomotor synapses on chick ciliary neurons. J Comparative Neurology 446:244-256

Fujimoto I, Bruses JL, Rutishauser U (2001) Regulation of cell adhesion by polysialic acid. Effects on cadherin, immunoglobulin cell adhesion molecule, and integrin function and independence from neural cell adhesion molecule binding or signaling activity. J Biological Chemistry 276:31745-31751

Bruses JL, Chauvet N, Rutishauser U (2001) Membrane lipid rafts are necessary for the maintenance of the (alpha)7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in somatic spines of ciliary neurons. J Neuroscience 21:504-512

Bruses JL, Rutishauser U (1998) Regulation of neural cell adhesion molecule polysialylation: evidence for nontranscriptional control and sensitivity to an intracellular pool of calcium. J Cell Biology 140:1177-1186

Bruses JL, Oka S, Rutishauser U (1995) NCAM-associated polysialic acid on ciliary ganglion neurons is regulated by polysialytransferase levels and interaction with muscle. J Neuroscience 15:8310-8319

Oka S, Bruses JL, Nelson RW, Rutishauser U (1995) Properties and developmental regulation of polysialyltransferase activity in the chicken embryo brain. J Biological Chemistry 270:19357-19363

Bruses JL, Pilar GR (1995) Effect of cycloheximide and mRNA synthesis inhibition on death of trophically deprived ciliary ganglion neurons in culture. J Neurophysiology 74:2487-2499

Bruses JL, Capaso J, Katz E, Pilar G (1993) Specific in vitro biological activity of snake venom myotoxins. J Neurochemistry 60:1030-1042

Gray DB, Bruses JL, Pilar GR (1992) Developmental switch in the pharmacology of Ca2+ channels coupled to acetylcholine release. Neuron 8:715-724

Bruses JL, Berninsone PM, Ojea SI, Azcurra JM (1991) The circling training rat model as a behavioral teratology test. Pharmacology Biochemistry Behavior 38:739-745

Berninsone PM, Bruses JL, Azcurra JM (1989) Detection of drug effects on neurons: protein synthesis inhibition by low doses of amphetamine. Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology 11:249-253

Invited book chapters and reviews

Bruses JL (2010) N-cadherin regulation of synapse formation and synaptic activity. In “Molecular and Functional Diversities of Cadherin/Protocadherin”. Edited by K. Yoshiuda, Research Signpost, Chapter 3 pp 39-55  

Bruses JL (2006) N-cadherin signaling in synapse formation and neuronal physiology. Molecular Neurobiology 33:237-252.  PMID: 16954598

Bruses JL, Rutishauser U (2001) Roles, regulation, and mechanism of polysialic acid function during neural development. Biochimie 83:635-643.  PMID: 11522392

Bruses JL, Rutishauser U (2000) Regulatory Roles of Polysialic Acid in Neural Cell Development. In Molecular and Cellular Glycobiology: Frontiers in Molecular Biology. Ed. M. Fukuda and O. Hindsgaul. Oxford University Press pp116-132

Bruses JL (2000) Cadherin-mediated adhesion at the interneuronal synapse. Current Opinion Cell Biology 12:593-597. PMID: 10978895

Bruses JL (2000) Regulacion de la adhesion celular durante la formacion de sinapsis: interacciones funcionales entre N-cadherin, p120ctn, y acido polisialico. Serie “Seminarios del Instituto de Biología Celular Dr. Eduardo De Robertis”

Bruses JL, Azcurra JM (1993) The Circling Training: A Behavioral Paradigm for Functional Teratology Testing. In Methods in Neuroscience Vol. 14, Paradigms for the Study of Behavior.  Ed P. M. Conn. Academic Press pp 166-179

Books

Donnoli VF, Moroni MV, Bruses JL (2015). Esquizofrenia Unica: Clinica, Psicopatologia, Neurobiologia. Ed. Salerno, Buenos Aires, Argentina ISBN 978-987-9083-49-9

Active

- National Science Foundation (NSF) - Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) 2020 -2022. PI: Bruses JL; Co-PI Pena JL

Title: REU Site: Summer Research Experiences in Neuroscience

Collaborative project between Mercy College Department of Natural Sciences and AlbertEinstein Department of Neuroscience

Amount: $416,349

- Faculty Development Course Release Award, Mercy College Provost’s Office

PI: Bruses JL, Title: Type II cadherins in neural development, Fall semester 2021

Completed

- R01 NS40300, NIH/NINDS, PI: Bruses JL                2001 - 2007. Title: Cell-cell interactions in synapse formation and function.

- Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research PI: Studer L, Co-PI: Bruses JL 2002 - 2004. Title: Unlimited numbers of midbrain dopamine from human embryonic stem cells

- Faculty Development Award, PI: Bruses JL, 2005 –2006, Center of Excellence for Minority Medical Education Health and Human Services

- Faculty Recruitment Award NIH/KIMBRE, PI: Bruses JL, 2005 –2006

- Lied Endowment / KUMC Research Institute, PI: Bruses JL, 2007 –2008. Title: N-cadherin regulation of neuronal physiology during development

- Kansas City Area Life Science Institute, PI: Bruses JL Co-PI: Chandrasekhar A, 2007 –2008. Title: Role of N-cadherin in neuronal and synaptic patterning

- KIMBRE Pilot project    NIH / KIMBRE, PI: Bruses JL 2008 - 2008. Title: Cell adhesion receptors in neuromuscular development

- Pilot Research Grant NIH / KIMBRE, PI: Bruses JL, 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009. Title: Analysis of N-cadherin signaling in neurons

- Pilot Research Grant     NIH / COBRE, PI: Bruses JL 2008 –2010. Title: Identification and characterization of synaptogenic proteins                   

- R21 MH082245, NIH/NIMH, PI: Bruses JL 2009 - 2011. Title: Isolation and characterization of synaptogenic proteins

- T32 HD057850, NIH/H, DPI: Nudo RJ 2009 - 2014. Training Program in Neurological and Rehabilitation Sciences

- Discovery Grant Award, PI: Bruses JL, 2010 - 2011. Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (KCART) Title: Effect of perinatal immune challenge on brain cytokine levels and animal behavior

- Mercy Travel Award to attend the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology

- Mercy Travel Award to attend the 2015 Gordon Research Conference in Cell Contact and Adhesion

- Faculty Development Award, Mercy College Provost’s Office 2015

PI: Bruses JL; Title: Regulation of α3β4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (nAChR) Expression and Localization by the Actin Cytoskeleton; Direct cost: $2998.25

- Mercy Travel Award to attend the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology

- Faculty Development Course Release Award, Mercy College Provost’s Office 2016

PI: Bruses JL; Title: Regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression and localization, Fall semester 2016

- Faculty Development Award, Mercy College Provost’s Office 2017

PI: Bruses JL; Title: Cell contact-mediated regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) on the cell surface. Direct cost: $2368, Fall semester 2017

- MAC Linkage Fellow grant from the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) 2018

PI: Bruses JL. This grant is to support activities to increase scholarship and interest in cell biology. The activities supported by this grant include Research Seminar Series, Science Café and Journal Club. Direct cost: $5,000

- Faculty Development Course Release Award, Mercy College Provost’s Office 2018

PI: Bruses JL, Title: Regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression and localization, Fall semester 2018

- Faculty Development Course Release Award, Mercy College Provost’s Office 2019

PI: Bruses JL, Title: Regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression and localization, Fall semester 2019