School of Dental Medicine Faculty

JOHN J. CUSICK Assistant Professor   Craniofacial Biology Mail Stop 8120, RC1-S, Rm L18 11115 12801 E. 17th Ave Aurora, CO 80045 Phone: 303-724-7038 Fax: 303-724-4580 Email: Click for Email

Education:
Ph.D. University of Colorado Health Sciences, Denver, CO

Postgraduate Training:
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
National Jewish Research Center, Denver, CO

Departmental Affiliations:
Craniofacial Biology, School of Dental Medicine

Research Interests:

Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Family
My research is directed towards the understanding of the Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Family member RELT (Receptor Expressed in Lymphoid Tissues). Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor (TNFR) members play an important role in diverse processes such as cancer, inflammation, development and autoimmune diseases. Originally identified and named for their ability to kill tumor cells, TNFRs are critical signaling molecules for the immune system and cellular homeostasis. RELT is a recently identified TNFR member that is expressed predominantly in lymphoid tissues. We have identified two homologues of RELT; RELL1 and RELL2, that physically interact with RELT and co-localize with RELT at the plasma membrane. Utilizing a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified OSR1 as a kinase that binds to and phosphorylates the RELT members (RELT, RELL1 and RELL2). Current studies involve elucidating the function of the RELT family members using tissue culture cell studies.

Selected Publications:
Cusick JK, Xu LG, Bin LH, Han KJ, Shu HB. Identification of RELT homologues that associate with RELT and are phosphorylated by OSR1. BBRC 2006 Feb 10; 340(2):535-43.

Cusick JK, Gill RE. The bcsA gene influences multiple aspects of development in Myxococcus xanthus. Curr Microbiol. 2005 Nov; 51(5):336-43.

Hoang TT, Sullivan SA, Cusick JK, Schweizer HP. Beta-ketoacyl acyl carrier protein reductase (FabG) activity of the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway is a determining factor of 3-oxo-homoserine lactone acyl chain lengths. Microbiology. 2002 Dec; 148 (Pt 12):3849-56.

Cusick JK, Hager E, Gill RE. Characterization of bcsA mutations that bypass two distinct signaling requirements for Myxococcus xanthus development. J Bacteriol. 2002 Sep; 184(18):5141-50.

Dahyia R, Park HD, Cusick J, Vessella RL, Fournier G, Narayan P. Inhibition of tumorigenic potential and prostate-specific antigen expression in LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line by 13-cis-retinoic acid. Int J cancer. 1994 Oct 1; 59(1):126-32.

Dahyia R, Park HD, Cassafer G, Cusick J, Narayan P. Downregulation of saturated fatty acid and upregulation of unsaturated fatty acid by 13-cis-retinoic acid in human prostate cancer cells. Biochem Int. 1992 Dec; 28(6):981-7.

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