Jennifer Oliver
e-mail address: jmoreno@umich.edu

Mentor: Philip King, PhD

Research Description

My research focuses on the role of Ras GTP-ase activating proteins (GAPs) in immune function. I am currently determining the effects of concurrent loss of two RasGAPs on T cell development and effector function in mice using Cre-lox conditional knockout technology. I am also attempting to determine which aspects of the p120 RasGAP knockout phenotype are due to loss of GAP domain catalytic function and which are independent of GAP domain function, thus indicating requirements for other RasGAP protein domains in normal signaling pathways. 

Publications

Ratner S, Wei WZ, Oliver J, Oliver J. Enhancement of T cell localization in mammary tumors through transient inhibition of T cell myosin function. Cell Immunol. 2005 Jan;233(1):1-10.

Williams LK, Oliver J, Peterson EL, Bobbitt KR, McCabe MJ Jr, Smolarek D, Havstad SL, Wegienka G, Burchard EG, Ownby DR, Johnson CC. Gene-environment interactions between CD14 C-260T and endotoxin exposure on Foxp3+ and Foxp3- CD4+ lymphocyte numbers and total serum IgE levels in early childhood. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Feb;100(2):128-36.

Tran CN, Thacker SG, Louie DM, Oliver J, White PT, Endres JL, Urquhart AG, Chung KC, Fox DA. Interactions of T cells with fibroblast-like synoviocytes: role of the B7 family costimulatory ligand B7-H3. J Immunol. 2008 Mar 1;180(5):2989-98.

Lapinski P.E., Oliver J.A., Kamen L.A. , Hughes E.D., Saunders T.L. and King P.D. 2008. Genetic analysis of SH2D4A, a novel adapter protein related to TSAd and ALX, reveals a redundant function in T cells. J Immunol. 2008 Aug 1; 181 (3): 2019-27 .

Awards

Rackham Merit Fellowship
CBTP training grant fellowship