Uwe Beffert

Independent Publications as Research Assistant Professor at Boston University 2009-present

Gallo CM, Kistler SA, Natrakul A, Labadorf AT, Beffert U*, Ho A* (2024) APOER2 splicing repertoire in Alzheimer’s disease: Insights from long-read RNA sequencing. PLOS Genetics. Updated to BioRxiv. (*Corresponding authors).

Henry SM, Kistler SA, Lagani GD, Bartling CRO, Ozcelik D, Sereikaite V, Strømgaard K, Beffert U, Ho A (2023) Tight control of the APP-Mint1 interaction in regulating amyloid production. Brain Research

K. Omuro, C.M. Gallo, L. Scrandis, A. Ho*, U. Beffert* Human APOER2 isoforms have differential cleavage events and synaptic properties Journal of Neuroscience 42 (20): 4054-4068. (*Corresponding authors)

C.M. Gallo, A. Ho*, U. Beffert* Single molecule, long-read Apoer2 sequencing identifies conserved and species-specific splicing patterns. Genomics 114 (2), 110318. (*Corresponding authors)

Mota, H. Waxman, R. Hong, G. Lagani, S. Niu, F. Bertherat, L. Wolfe, C.M. Malicdan, T. Markello, D.R. Adams, W. Gahl, C. Cheng, U. Beffert*, A. Ho* (2021) FOXR1 regulates stress response pathways and is necessary for proper brain development. PLOS Genetics 17(11): e1009854 (*Corresponding authors).

M. Gallo, A. Ho, U. Beffert (2020) ApoER2: Functional tuning through splicing. Frontiers Molecular Neuroscience 13:144.

Y. Lin, S.M. Henry, C. Reissner, C. Neupert, M. Missler, U. Beffert, A. Ho. (2019) A rare autism-associated MINT2/APBA2 mutation disrupts neurexin trafficking and synaptic function. Scientific Reports 9(1):6024

M. Dillon, W.A. Tyler, K.C. Omuro, J. Kambouris, C. Tyminski, S. Henry, T.F. Haydar, U. Beffert*, A. Ho* (2017) CLASP2 links reelin to the cytoskeleton during neocortical development. Neuron, 93(6):1344-1358. (*Corresponding authors)

R. Wasser, I. Masiulis, M.S. Durakoglugil, C. Lane-Donovan, X. Xian, U. Beffert, A. Agarwala, R.E. Hammer, J. Herz. (2014) Differential splicing and glycosylation of Apoer2 alters synaptic plasticity and fear learning. Science Signaling 7:ra113.

Beffert*, G. Dillon, J.M. Sullivan, J.P. Gilbert, C. Stuart, A. Ho* (2012) Microtubule plus-end tracking protein CLASP2 regulates neuronal polarity and synaptic function. Journal of Neuroscience 32(40):13906-13916. (* Corresponding authors)

Publications as a Research Team Leader at Merck 2006-2009

M. Larouche, U. Beffert, J. Herz, and R. Hawkes. (2008) The reelin receptors apoer2 and vldlr coordinate the patterning of Purkinje cell topography in the developing mouse cerebellum. PLoS ONE. 27;3(2):e1653.

A.L. Akopians A.H. Babayan, U. Beffert, J. Herz, A.I. Basbaum, and P.E. Phelps. (2008) Contribution of the Reelin signaling pathways to nociceptive processing. European Journal of Neuroscience 27(3): 523-37.

G. Zhang, A.H. Assadi, R.S. McNeil, U. Beffert, A. Wynshaw-Boris, J. Herz, G.D. Clark, and G. D’Arcangelo. (2007) The Pafah1b complex interacts with the Reelin receptor VLDLR.  PLoS ONE 2(2): e252.

Publications as a Postdoctoral Fellow 1999-2006

U. Beffert, F. Nematollah Farsian, I. Masiulis, R.E., Hammer, S.O. Yoon, K.M. Giehl, and J. Herz. (2006) ApoE receptor 2 controls neuronal survival in the adult brain. Current Biology 16(24): 2446-2452. Featured as research highlight in Nature Reviews Neuroscience 8, 83 (Feb. 2007).

U. Beffert, A. Durudas, E.J. Weeber, P. Stolt, K.M. Giehl, J.D. Sweatt, R.E. Hammer, and J. Herz. (2006) Functional dissection of Reelin signaling by site-directed disruption of Disabled-1 adaptor binding to Apolipoprotein E receptor 2: Distinct roles in development and synaptic plasticity. Journal of Neuroscience 26(7): 2041-2052.

S. Hoe, D. Wessner, U. Beffert, A.G. Becker, Y. Matsuoka, G.W. Rebeck. (2005) F-spondin interaction with the apoE receptor ApoER2 affects processing of APP. Molecular and Cellular Biology 25(21): 9259-9268.

Chen, U. Beffert, M. Ertunc, T.-S. Tang, E.T. Kavalali, I. Bezprozvanny, and J. Herz. (2005) Reelin modulates NMDA receptor activity in cortical neurons. Journal of Neuroscience 25(36): 8209-8216. Featured as research highlight in Nature Reviews Neuroscience 6, 826 (Nov 2005).

Beffert, E.J. Weeber, A. Durudas, S. Qiu, I. Masiulis, J.D. Sweatt, W.P. Li, G. Adelmann, M. Frotscher, R.E. Hammer, and J. Herz. (2005) Modulation of synaptic plasticity and memory by Reelin involves differential splicing of the lipoprotein receptor Apoer2. Neuron 47(4): 567-579. Featured commentary in the same issue of Neuron and also as research highlight in Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

Petit-Turcotte, N. Aumont, U. Beffert, D. Dea, J. Herz, and J. Poirier. (2005) The apoE receptor apoER2 is involved in the maintenance of efficient synaptic plasticity. Neurobiology of Aging. 26(2):195-206.

May, A. Rohlmann, H.H. Bock, K. Zurhove, J.D. Marth, E.D. Schomburg, J.L. Noebels, U. Beffert, J.D. Sweatt, E.J. Weeber, and J. Herz. (2004) Neuronal LRP1 functionally associates with postsynaptic proteins and is required for normal motor function in mice. Molecular and Cellular Biology 24(20):8872-83.

Morfini, G, Szebenyi, H. Brown, H.C. Pant, G. Pigino, S. DeBoer, U. Beffert, and S.T. Brady. (2004) A novel CDK5-dependent pathway for regulating GSK3 activity and kinesin-driven motility in neurons. EMBO Journal 2;23(11):2235-45.

Beffert, E. Weeber, G. Morfini, J. Ko, S.T. Brady, L.-H. Tsai, J.D. Sweatt, and J. Herz. (2004) Reelin and Cdk5-dependent signals cooperate in regulating neuronal migration and synaptic transmission. Journal of Neuroscience 24(8):1897-906. Cited > 140 times.

H. Assadi, G. Zhang, U. Beffert, R.S. McNeil, A.L. Renfro, S. Niu, C.C. Quattrocchi, B.A. Anatalffy, M. Sheldon, D.D. Armstrong, A. Wynshaw-Boris, J. Herz, G. D’Arcangelo, G.D. Clark. (2003) Interaction of Reelin signaling and Lis1 in brain development. Nature Genetics 35(3):270-276.

Beffert, G. Morfini, H.H. Bock, H. Reyna, S.T. Brady, and J. Herz. (2002) Reelin-mediated signaling locally regulates protein kinase B/Akt and glycogen synthase kinase 3b. Journal of Biological Chemistry 277(51):49958-64.

J. Weeber, U. Beffert, C. Jones, J.M. Christian, E. Forster, J.D. Sweatt, and J. Herz. (2002) Reelin and ApoE receptors cooperate to enhance hippocampal synaptic plasticity and learning. Journal of Biological Chemistry 277(42):39944-39952.

Publications as Graduate Student

Petit-Turcotte, S.M. Stohl, U. Beffert, J.S. Cohn, N. Aumont, M. Tremblay, D. Dea, L. Yang, J. Poirier, N.S. Shachter. (2001) Apolipoprotein C-I expression in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiology of Disease 8(6):953-963.

Ramassamy, D. Averill, U. Beffert, L. Theroux, S. Lussier-Cacan, J. S. Cohn, Y. Christen, A. Schoofs, J. Davignon, and J. Poirier. (2000) Oxidative insults are associated with apolipoprotein E genotype in Alzheimer’s disease brain. Neurobiology of Disease 7:23-37.

Beffert, J. S. Cohn, C. Petit-Turcotte, M. Tremblay, N. Aumont, C. Ramassamy, J. Davignon, and J. Poirier. (1999) Apolipoprotein E and b-amyloid levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of Alzheimer’s disease subjects are disease-related and apolipoprotein E genotype dependent. Brain Research 843(1/2):87-94.

Ramassamy, D. Averill, U. Beffert, S. Bastianetto, L. Theroux, S. Lussier-Cacan, J. S. Cohn, Y. Christen, J. Davignon, R. Quirion, and J. Poirier. (1999) Oxidative damage and protection by antioxidants in frontal cortex of Alzheimer’s disease is related to the apolipoprotein E genotype. Free Radical Biology & Medicine 27(5/6):544-553.

Beffert, N. Aumont, D. Dea, S. Lussier-Cacan, J. Davignon, and J. Poirier. (1999) Apolipoprotein E isoform-specific reduction of extracellular amyloid in neuronal cultures. Molecular Brain Research 68(1-2):181-185.

Beffert, C. Arguin, and J. Poirier. (1999) The polymorphism in exon 3 of the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein gene is weakly associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroscience Letters 259(1):29-32.

Beffert and J. Poirier. (1998) ApoE associated with lipid has a reduced capacity to inhibit -amyloid fibril formation. Neuroreport 9(14):3321-3323.

Beffert, P. Bertrand, D. Champagne, S. Gauthier, and J. Poirier. (1998) HSV-1 and risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Lancet 352(9123):238.

Beffert, P. Bertrand, D. Champagne, S. Gauthier, and J. Poirier. (1998) HSV-1 in brain and risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Lancet 351(9112):1330-1331.

Beffert, N. Aumont, D. Dea, S. Lussier-Cacan, J. Davignon, and J. Poirier. (1998) b-amyloid peptides increase the binding and internalization of apolipoprotein E to hippocampal neurons. Journal of Neurochemistry 70(4):1458-1466.

Beffert and J. Poirier. (1996) Apolipoprotein E, plaques, tangles and cholinergic dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 777:166-174.

Poirier, U. Beffert, D. Dea, R. Alonso, D. O’Donnell, and P. Boksa. (1995) Increased levels of statin, a marker of cell cycle arrest, in response to hippocampal neuronal injury. Molecular Brain Research 34(1):57-64.

Invited Reviews and Book Chapters:

Beffert, P. Stolt, and J. Herz. (2004) Functions of lipoprotein receptors in neurons (review). Journal of Lipid Research 45(3):403-9.

Morfini, G. Pigino, U. Beffert, J. Busciglio, and S.T. Brady. (2002) Fast axonal transport misregulation and Alzheimer’s disease (review). Neuromolecular Medicine 2(2):89-99.

Herz, U. Beffert, T. Hiesberger, and M. Gotthardt. (2001) ApoE receptors in the brain: Novel signaling pathways with potential relevance for Alzheimer’s disease. In: Research and perspectives in Alzheimer’s diseases, edited by Beyreuther, K., Christen, Y. and Masters, C., Berlin: Springer-Verlag, pp. 141-148.

Herz and U. Beffert. (2000) Apolipoprotein E receptors: Linking brain development and Alzheimer’s disease (review). Nature Reviews Neuroscience 1:51-58.

Danik, D. Champagne, C. Petit-Turcotte, U. Beffert, and J. Poirier. (1999) Brain lipoprotein metabolism and relation to neurodegenerative disease (review). Critical Reviews in Neurobiology 13(4):357‑407.

Beffert, P. Bertrand, D. Champagne, S. Gauthier, and J. Poirier. (1998) Herpes simplex virus type 1 in brain, apolipoprotein E genotype and Alzheimer’s disease (review). McGill Journal of Medicine 4(1):10-14.

Quirion, D. Auld, U. Beffert, J. Poirier, and S. Kar. (1998) Putative links between some of the key pathological features of the Alzheimer’s brain. In: The Aging Brain, edited by E. Wang and S. Snyder, New York: Academic Press, pp. 181-199.

Beffert, M. Danik, P. Krzywkowski, C. Ramassamy, F. Berrada, and J. Poirier. (1998) The neurobiology of apolipoproteins and their receptors in the CNS and Alzheimer’s disease (review). Brain Research Reviews 27(2):119-142.

Boksa, U. Beffert, D. Dea, R. Alonso, D. O’Donnell, and J. Poirier. (1997) Both irreversible neuronal death and reversible neuronal stress are associated with increased levels of statin, a marker of cell cycle arrest. In: Apoptosis: Techniques and Protocols, edited by J. Poirier, New York: Humana Press Inc., pp. 161-182.

Beffert, N. Aumont, D. Dea, J. Davignon, and J. Poirier. (1996) Apolipoprotein E uptake is increased by b-amyloid peptides and reduced by blockade of the LDL receptor. In: Neurodegenerative diseases: molecular and cellular mechanisms and therapeutic advances, edited by G. Fiskum, New York: Plenum Press, pp. 103-108.