Office: Gyte 286
Phone: 219-989-3177
Email: Gina.Zainelli.purduecal.edu
Education
Postdoctoral Fellow, Emory University Eye Center, Atlanta, GA
Ph.D. Molecular Biology, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL
B.S. Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL
Research Interests
My research in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, retinal degeneration, and cataract formation have pointed to a role of transglutaminase enzymes in these disorders. Transglutaminase has not only been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, but also is problematic for those that suffer from the autoimmune/digestional disorder, Celiac’s disease. Many patients with Celiac’s disease are seropositive for anti-transglutaminase antibodies. Transglutaminase has been used as “meat glue” in food processing, culinary schools, and in gourmet cooking. Therefore, my current research interests lie in elucidating the negative effects of ingesting transglutaminase enzymes, or processed foods formed by transglutaminase.
Selected Publications
Zainelli GM. Identification of transglutaminase in foods that do not list transglutaminase as an ingredient. Journal of Food Protection, Manuscript in preparation.
Panner A, Cribbs LL, Zainelli GM, Origitano TC, Singh S, and Wurster RD. Variation of T-type calcium channel protein expression affects cell division of cultured tumor cells. Cell Calcium 37 (2): 105-19, 2005.
Zainelli GM, Dudek NL, Ross CA, Kim S-Y, and Muma NA. Mutant huntingtin protein: A substrate for transglutaminase 1, 2 and 3. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 64(1):58-65, 2004.
Zainelli GM, Wen J, Barron BC, and Garcia-Valenzuela E. Transplantation of adult ciliary epithelium-derived stem cells in a mouse model of retinal detachment. Society for Neuroscience 34th Annual Meeting; San Diego, CA; 2004.
Zainelli GM, Barron BC, Wen J, Kapp JA, and Garcia E. Implantation of neural retinal precursor cells (NRPCs) into the subretinal space of light-damaged mouse eyes. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; 2004.
Zhang Y, Gray TS, D’Souza DN, Carrasco GA, Damjanoska KJ, Dudas B, Garcia F, Zainelli GM, Sullivan Hanley NR, Battaglia G, Muma NA, and Van de Kar LD. Desensitization of 5-HT1A receptors by 5-HT2A receptors in neuroendicrine neurons in vivo. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 310 (1): 59-66, 2004.
Zainelli GM, Ross CA, Troncoso JC, Fitzgerald JK, and Muma NA. Calmodulin regulates transglutaminase 2 cross-linking of huntingtin. Journal of Neuroscience 24 (8); 1954-1961; 2004.
Zainelli GM, Ross CA, Troncoso JC, and Muma NA. Transglutaminase cross-links in intranuclear inclusions in Huntington’s disease. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 62 (1); 14-24; 2003.
Singer SM, Zainelli GM, Norlund MA, Lee JM, and Muma NA. Transglutaminase bonds in neurofibrillary tangles and paired helical filament tau early in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurochemistry International 40 (1); 17-30; 2002.
Norlund MA, Lee JM, Zainelli GM, and Muma NA. Elevated transglutaminase-induced bonds in PHF tau in Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Research 851 (1-2); 154-63; 1999.
Courses
BIOL 21300 – Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 21400 - Anatomy and Physiology II
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