Personnel
Jay Nadeau
Assistant Professor
McGill University
(514) 398-8372
jay.nadeau@mcgill.ca
http://www.mcgill.ca/microimm/
department/associate_adjunct_prof/nadeau/
Application of nanoparticles to visualize metabolic processes
Semiconductor Nanoparticles. My lab has 3 main goals using these particles: (1) to study interactions between cells an nanocrystals to discover toxic effects and/or new processes; (2) to use CdSe or CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals as fluorescent labels that are embedded into cell membranes or taken up into cells. Ideally, the particles would change color or intensity when the cells they are in are excited; (3) to use iron nanoparticles as MRI contrast agents. Preliminary results have included demonstrating uptake of adenine-conjugated CdSe nanoparticles into Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Toxic effects were particular to the nanocrystals, not related to heavy metal release, and resulted in inhibition of cell division but not elongation. Future work will involve demonstration of the mechanism of nanoparticle entry into bacteria.
Sodium Channel Function and Neuronal Excitability. I am interested in determining the effect of suppression of sodium channel function on expression and function of GABA and glutamate receptors in hippocampal and other neurons. To this end, I am working on optical recording techniques for real-time evaluation of glutamate receptor function. Eventual goals will be the elucidation of mechanisms of brain injury and disease that are related to sodium channel function. In particular, I am interested in the role of the transcription factor Neuron-Restrictive Silencer Factor which suppresses sodium channel transcription in non-neuronal cells, and plays an as-yet-unknown role in neurons.
Viral Vectors and Fluorescent Proteins. My lab uses lentiviral vectors for delivery of genes into postmitotic neurons. Future goals include use of genetically-encoded fluorescent markers other than GFP and its variants; use of cell-type-specific promoters within lentiviral vectors, particularly neuron-specific promoters; and creation of transgenic mice using lentivirus.
Astrobiology. The same optical techniques that are used to detect metabolic processes in cell biology may be used to detect signs of extant or extinct life on Mars. My lab is developing a panel of fluorescence probes and a microscope system for proposal to a future Mars mission.
Recent Publications:
Nadeau H. 1996. Variational density matrices in quantum field theory at finite temperature and chemical potential. Phys Rev D 15;54:1696-1718
Photon emission from very high energy nuclear collisions, Nadeau H, Phys Rev D 1993 Oct 1;48(7):3182-3189 (1993)
Parametrization of thermal photon emission rates from mesonic matter, Nadeau H, Phys Rev C 45(6):3034-3036 (1992)
Nadeau H. 1997. Relativistic generalization of the hypernetted chain approximation. Phys Rev D 55:1109-1111
Nadeau H, McKinney S, Anderson DJ, Lester HA. 2000. ROMK1 (Kir1.1) causes apoptosis and chronic silencing of hippocampal neurons. J Neurophysiol 84:1062-1075
Nadeau H, Lester HA. 2000. Two-compartment model for whole-cell data analysis and transient compensation. J Neurosci Methods 99:25-35
Nadeau H, Lester HA. 2002. NRSF causes cAMP-sensitive suppression of sodium current in cultured hippocampal neurons. J Neurophysiol 88:409-421
Kloepfer JA, Wong M, Nealson KH, Stucky G, Nadeau JL. 2003. Quantum dots as species- and metabolism-specific microbiological labels. Appl Environ Microbio 69:4205-1
Nadeau JL. 2003. Hippocampal neurons. Methods Mol Biol 229:141-154
Leon R, Nadeau J, Evans K, Paskova T, Monemar B. 2004. Electron irradiation effects on nanocrystal quantum dots used in bio-sensing Applications. IEEE Transact Nucl Sci 51:3186–3192
Kloepfer JA, Cohen N, Nadeau JL. 2004. FRET between CdSe quantum dots in lipid vesicles and water- and lipid-soluble dyes. J Phys Chem B 108:17042-17049
Kloepfer JA, Bradforth S, Nadeau JL. 2005. Photo-physical properties of biologically compatible CdSe quantum dot structures. J Phys Chem B 109: 9996-10003
Kloepfer JA, Mielke RE, Nadeau JL. 2005. Uptake of CdSe and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots into bacteria via purine dependent mechanisms. Appl Environ Microbio 71:2548-2557
Bahcheli DM, Sun HJ, Nadeau JL. 2005. Fluorescence microscopy as a tool for in situ life detection. (submitted)
White VE, Maurer J, Dougherty DA, Nadeau JL. 2005. Reconstitution of ion channels in agarose-supported silicon orifices. (submitted)
Clarke SJ, Zhang Z, Bahcheli DM, Hollmann CA, Dimitrijevic NM, Nadeau JL. 2005. Photophysics of electron-donor modified quantum dots and effects on biological systems. Nature Materials (submitted)
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