Myelin Group    MMDC

Family name : HEAPE
First names : Martin Anthony (Tony)
Date of birth : 1st November 1956
Place of birth : Solihull, England
Nationality : British

Professional Address
Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology
PL
5000 (Aapistie 7)
FIN-90014 University of Oulu

Tel. (+358) 08 537 51 97
Fax. (+358) 08 537 51 72

E-mail : aheape (at) cc.oulu.fi

   






CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION, DIPLOMAS AND TRAINING

1981 B. Sc. Biochemistry. University of Bordeaux II (Bordeaux, France).
1982 M. Sc. Biochemistry. University of Bordeaux II (Bordeaux, France).
1983 Licenciate of Cellular and Molecular Biology Research. University of Bordeaux II (Bordeaux, France).
1988 Ph. D. Biochemistry. University of Bordeaux II (Bordeaux, France).
1997 Docent Biochemistry/Neurochemistry of Oulu University Faculty of Sciences (Oulu, Finland).

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH POSITIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

1988 - 1990 Scientist (CR 2, CNRS) in the Laboratory of Membrane Biogenesis at the I.B.C.N. (Bordeaux, France).
1990 - 1992 Postdoctoral leave at the Biocenter Oulu and Department of Clinical Chemistry (Oulu, Finland).
1992 - 1995 Senior Scientist (CR 1, CNRS) in the Laboratory of Membrane Biogenesis (Bordeaux, France).
1995 - 2003 Senior Scientist in the Department of Pathology (Oulu, Finland).
2003 - 2004 Senior Assistant/Scientist in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology (Oulu, Finland)
2004 -          Research Fellow of the Academy of Finland

SUMMARY OF RESEARCH ACTIVITY

LABORATORY OF MEMBRANE BIOGENESIS OF THE C.N.R.S. (BORDEAUX, FRANCE)

Developmental and in vivo approaches to myelin biogenesis in the peripheral nervous system and its pathological modifications in the case of a dysmyelinating mutant. Three principal topics:
1. A comparative developmental study of lipid accumulation in the sciatic nerves of normal and Trembler mutant mice during the period of active myelinogenesis. This study allowed to conclude that the original process taking place in the neuropathy affecting the Trembler mouse peripheral nervous system is one of dysmyelination , while demyelination is a secondary event.
2. An in vivo study of lipid metabolism in the peripheral nervous system. The results of this study demonstrated that the ceramide pathway and the Kennedy pathway are, respectively, the major contributors to sphingolipid and glycerolipid biosynthesis in myelinated peripheral nerves in vivo and in situ. We also showed that galactosyl-cerebroside biosynthesis in the Trembler mouse nerves was severely diminished and that the cerebrosides that were synthesized were abnormal. The deficient synthesis of these myelin lipids was shown to result from anomalies in the substrate supply, rather than to defective activities of the enzyme systems in the mutant’s peripheral nerves.
3. An in vivo study of intracellular, intermembrane transports of lipids from their sites of synthesis to the myelin in mouse sciatic nerves. This study allowed to demonstrate an intermembrane movement of lipids from a membrane fraction presenting characteristics of a site of lipid synthesis, to myelin membranes.

BIOCENTER OULU AND DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (Oulu, Finland)

The effect of the human Prostate-specific Acid Phosphatase [hPAP] on growth factor-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation in androgen-dependent and androgen-insensitive prostate cancer epithelial cell lines.

DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY (Oulu, Finland)

In the Dept. of Pathology (Oulu University, Finland), I set up the Myelin Group and developed our research project focusing on the transmembrane myelin-associated glycoproteins (MAG) that are believed to be involved in the initiation of myelination, in myelin maintenance, and in the development of myelin disorders. The research employs protein biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology and structural biochemistry to identify and characterize interactions of  MAG with its ligands (native and recombinant) and, thus, gain insight into the roles of these proteins and the mechanisms by which they are fulfilled.

DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY & CELL BIOLOGY (Oulu, Finland)

In the Dept. of Anatomy (Oulu University, Finland), I am developing further the project started in the Pathology Dept., adding a few refinements and introducing new dimensions with the creation of the Myelination & Myelin Disease Consortium (MMDC), of which I am Project Manager and Coordinator.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/SOCIETIES

Member of the Society for Neurosciences.
Member of the Oulu Biochemists’ Society.
Member of the Peripheral Nerve Society.
Member of the Brain Research Society of Finland
Coordinator of the
Myelination & Myelin Disease Consortium (MMDC)

LANGUAGES

Perfectly bilingual: English - French (spoken - written - read).  A LITTLE Finnish (getting better every day, sometimes).

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