BSc in Biology (1988) Umea University, Sweden
PhD in Molecular Biology (1994), Umea University, Sweden. Supervisor: Thomas Edlund
Postdoc, Molecular Neurobiology (1994-1999) Salk Institute, La Jolla, USA. Mentor: John B. Thomas
Assistant Professor (1999-2004), Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
Professor of Developmental Biology (2004-2019), Linkoping University, Sweden
Professor of Developmental Biology (2019-), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (2013-)
Journal Article: Cellular and molecular functions of SETD2 in the central nervous system
Mitchell, Benjamin, Thor, Stefan and Piper, Michael (2023). Cellular and molecular functions of SETD2 in the central nervous system. Journal of Cell Science, 136 (21) jcs261406, 1-11. doi: 10.1242/jcs.261406
Journal Article: Cytocipher determines significantly different populations of cells in single cell RNA-seq data
Balderson, Brad, Piper, Michael, Thor, Stefan and Boden, Mikael (2023). Cytocipher determines significantly different populations of cells in single cell RNA-seq data. Bioinformatics, 39 (7) btad435. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btad435
Journal Article: Specification of the Drosophila Orcokinin A neurons by combinatorial coding
Rubio-Ferrera, Irene, Clarembaux-Badell, Luis, Baladrón-de-Juan, Pablo, Berrocal-Rubio, Miguel Ángel, Thor, Stefan, Cobeta, Ignacio Monedero and Benito-Sipos, Jonathan (2023). Specification of the Drosophila Orcokinin A neurons by combinatorial coding. Cell and Tissue Research, 391 (2), 269-286. doi: 10.1007/s00441-022-03721-x
Developing an in vitro human sleep system
(2023–2025) NHMRC IDEAS Grants
What drives the Anterior Expansion of the Central Nervous System?
(2023–2025) ARC Discovery Projects
(2023–2024) Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative - Pilot Award
Generating hypothalamic neurons from human stem cells
Doctor Philosophy
Cell Type Definition from Single Cell RNA-seq
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
Machine learning models of epigenetic dynamics driving cell fate
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
The role of the hypothalamic neuropeptide Npvf in mouse fertility and sleep-wake behaviours
The hypothalamic neuropeptide Npvf is expressed by a very small subset of neurons within the hypothalamus. Npvf has been implicated in fertility, seasonal mating behaviour and sleep-wake behaviours, in several different mammalian species, as well as in the zebrafish. But these studies have been based upon correlative experiments, RNAi and peptide injections, and the Npvf gene has hitherto not beek knocked out. we have geneerated a condititional null allele of Npvf. This project aims to address the effect of a null mutation in Npvf upon a set of mouse behaviours.
The role of the mouse Tead1/Vgll2 transcription factors in dictating hypothalamic cell fate
The hypothalamic neuropeptide Npvf is expressed by a very small subset of neurons within the hypothalamus. Npvf has been implicated in fertility, seasonal mating behaviour and sleep-wake behaviours. Using single cell transcriptional profiling, we and others have identified the transcription factors Tead1 and Vgll2 as selectively expressed in Npvf neurons in the mouse hypothalamus. The Tead and Vgll families typically interact and form a complex. We have generated a mouse Tead1 knock-out, and found that the Npvf neurons are missing. The project aims to address the underlying reason for the phenotype. We are also in the process of obtaining the mouse Vgll2 knockout, to be able to compare the effects of this knock-out with that of Tead1.
Genetic mechanisms controlling anterior expansion of the central nervous system
Yaghmaeian Salmani, Behzad and Thor, Stefan (2020). Genetic mechanisms controlling anterior expansion of the central nervous system. Gradients and tissue patterning. (pp. 333-361) edited by Stephen Small and James Briscoe. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2019.11.005
The five faces of notch signalling during Drosophila melanogaster embryonic CNS development
Bahrampour, Shahrzad and Thor, Stefan (2020). The five faces of notch signalling during Drosophila melanogaster embryonic CNS development. Notch signaling in embryology and cancer: notch signaling in embryology. (pp. 39-58) edited by Jörg Reichrath and Sandra Reichrath. New York, NY, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-34436-8_3
Thor, S and Stratmann, J (2017). From stem cell to unique neuron: combinatorial codes, feedforward loops and target-derived signals – an outlook from the Drosophila apterous neurons. Reference module in neuroscience and biobehavioral psychology. (pp. 1-11) Amsterdam: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-809324-5.02415-9
Thor, Stefan and Allan, Douglas W. (2016). Advances in understanding the generation and specification of unique neuronal sub-types from Drosophila neuropeptidergic neurons. Organogenetic gene networks: genetic control of organ formation. (pp. 57-93) edited by James Castelli-Gair Hombría and Paola Bovolenta. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-42767-6_3
Benito-Sipos, J., Baumgardt, M. and Thor, S. (2013). Development of the Drosophila embryonic ventral nerve cord: from neuroectoderm to unique neurons and glia. Patterning and cell type specification in the developing CNS and PNS. (pp. 627-644) edited by John L.R. Rubenstein and Pasko Rakic. San Diego, CA, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-397265-1.00073-3
Drosophila apterous neurons: From stem cell to unique neuron
Thor, S. (2010). Drosophila apterous neurons: From stem cell to unique neuron. Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. (pp. 671-675) Elsevier Ltd. doi: 10.1016/B978-008045046-9.01034-2
Thor, S. (2009). Cell specification in the nervous system: an outlook from the Drosophila peptidergic FMRFamide Tv neuron.. Encyclopedia of neuroscience. (pp. 671-675) Oxford, United Kingdom: Academic Press.
Cellular and molecular functions of SETD2 in the central nervous system
Mitchell, Benjamin, Thor, Stefan and Piper, Michael (2023). Cellular and molecular functions of SETD2 in the central nervous system. Journal of Cell Science, 136 (21) jcs261406, 1-11. doi: 10.1242/jcs.261406
Cytocipher determines significantly different populations of cells in single cell RNA-seq data
Balderson, Brad, Piper, Michael, Thor, Stefan and Boden, Mikael (2023). Cytocipher determines significantly different populations of cells in single cell RNA-seq data. Bioinformatics, 39 (7) btad435. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btad435
Specification of the Drosophila Orcokinin A neurons by combinatorial coding
Rubio-Ferrera, Irene, Clarembaux-Badell, Luis, Baladrón-de-Juan, Pablo, Berrocal-Rubio, Miguel Ángel, Thor, Stefan, Cobeta, Ignacio Monedero and Benito-Sipos, Jonathan (2023). Specification of the Drosophila Orcokinin A neurons by combinatorial coding. Cell and Tissue Research, 391 (2), 269-286. doi: 10.1007/s00441-022-03721-x
Clarembaux-Badell, Luis, Baladrón-de-Juan, Pablo, Gabilondo, Hugo, Rubio-Ferrera, Irene, Millán, Irene, Estella, Carlos, Valverde-Ortega, Félix S., Cobeta, Ignacio Monedero, Thor, Stefan and Benito-Sipos, Jonathan (2022). Dachshund acts with Abdominal-B to trigger programmed cell death in the Drosophila central nervous system at the frontiers of Abd-B expression. Developmental Neurobiology, 82 (6), 495-504. doi: 10.1002/dneu.22894
Hydrocephalus in Nfix−/− mice is underpinned by changes in ependymal cell physiology
Harkins, Danyon, Harvey, Tracey J., Atterton, Cooper, Miller, Ingrid, Currey, Laura, Oishi, Sabrina, Kasherman, Maria, Davila, Raul Ayala, Harris, Lucy, Green, Kathryn, Piper, Hannah, Parton, Robert G., Thor, Stefan, Cooper, Helen M. and Piper, Michael (2022). Hydrocephalus in Nfix−/− mice is underpinned by changes in ependymal cell physiology. Cells, 11 (15) 2377, 2377. doi: 10.3390/cells11152377
Rubio-Ferrera, Irene, Baladrón-De-Juan, Pablo, Clarembaux-Badell, Luis, Truchado-Garcia, Marta, Jordán-Álvarez, Sheila, Thor, Stefan, Benito-Sipos, Jonathan and Cobeta, Ignacio Monedero (2022). Selective role of the DNA helicase Mcm5 in BMP retrograde signaling during Drosophila neuronal differentiation. PLoS Genetics, 18 (6) e1010255, 1-17. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010255
Yaghmaeian Salmani, Behzad, Balderson, Brad, Bauer, Susanne, Ekman, Helen, Starkenberg, Annika, Perlmann, Thomas, Piper, Michael, Bodén, Mikael and Thor, Stefan (2022). Selective requirement for polycomb repressor complex 2 in the generation of specific hypothalamic neuronal subtypes. Development, 149 (5) dev200076. doi: 10.1242/dev.200076
Mora, Ariane, Rakar, Jonathan, Cobeta, Ignacio Monedero, Salmani, Behzad Yaghmaeian, Starkenberg, Annika, Thor, Stefan and Bodén, Mikael (2022). Variational autoencoding of gene landscapes during mouse CNS development uncovers layered roles of Polycomb Repressor Complex 2. Nucleic Acids Research, 50 (3), 1280-1296. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkac006
TEAD family transcription factors in development and disease
Currey, Laura, Thor, Stefan and Piper, Michael (2021). TEAD family transcription factors in development and disease. Development, 148 (12) dev196675. doi: 10.1242/dev.196675
Sandberg, Alexander, Ling, Helen, Gearing, Marla, Dombroski, Beth, Cantwell, Laura, R'Bibo, Lea, Levey, Allan, Schellenberg, Gerard D., Hardy, John, Wood, Nicholas, Fernius, Josefin, Nyström, Sofie, Svensson, Samuel, Thor, Stefan, Hammarström, Per, Revesz, Tamas and Mok, Kin Y. (2020). Fibrillation and molecular characteristics are coherent with clinical and pathological features of 4-repeat tauopathy caused by MAPT variant G273R. Neurobiology of Disease, 146 105079, 105079. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105079
Drosophila neuroblast selection is gated by Notch, Snail, SoxB, and EMT gene interplay
Arefin, Badrul, Parvin, Farjana, Bahrampour, Shahrzad, Stadler, Caroline Bivik and Thor, Stefan (2019). Drosophila neuroblast selection is gated by Notch, Snail, SoxB, and EMT gene interplay. Cell Reports, 29 (11), 3636-3651.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.11.038
Amyloid fibril polymorphism and cell-specific toxicity in vivo
Jonson, Maria, Nyström, Sofie, Sandberg, Alexander, Carlback, Marcus, Michno, Wojciech, Hanrieder, Jörg, Starkenberg, Annika, Peter, K., Nilsson, R., Thor, Stefan and Hammarström, Per (2019). Amyloid fibril polymorphism and cell-specific toxicity in vivo. Amyloid, 26 (sup1), 136-137. doi: 10.1080/13506129.2019.1582488
Bivik Stadler, Caroline, Arefin, Badrul, Ekman, Helen and Thor, Stefan (2019). PIP degron-stabilized Dacapo/p21Cip1 and mutations in ago act in an anti- versus pro-proliferative manner, yet both trigger an increase in Cyclin E levels. Development, 146 (13) dev175927, dev175927. doi: 10.1242/dev.175927
Anterior CNS expansion driven by brain transcription factors
Curt, Jesús Rodriguez, Salmani, Behzad Yaghmaeian and Thor, Stefan (2019). Anterior CNS expansion driven by brain transcription factors. eLife, 8 e45274, e45274. doi: 10.7554/elife.45274
A branching gene regulatory network dictating different aspects of a neuronal cell identity
Stratmann, Johannes, Ekman, Helen and Thor, Stefan (2019). A branching gene regulatory network dictating different aspects of a neuronal cell identity. Development, 146 (6) dev174300, dev174300. doi: 10.1242/dev.174300
Bahrampour, Shahrzad, Jonsson, Carolin and Thor, Stefan (2019). Brain expansion promoted by polycomb-mediated anterior enhancement of a neural stem cell proliferation program. PLoS biology, 17 (2) e3000163, e3000163. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000163
Specification of Drosophila neuropeptidergic neurons by the splicing component brr2
Monedero Cobeta, Ignacio, Stadler, Caroline Bivik, Li, Jin, Yu, Peng, Thor, Stefan and Benito-Sipos, Jonathan (2018). Specification of Drosophila neuropeptidergic neurons by the splicing component brr2. PLoS Genetics, 14 (8) e1007496, e1007496. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007496
Jonson, Maria, Nystrom, Sofie, Sandberg, Alexander, Carlback, Marcus, Michno, Wojciech, Hanrieder, Jorg, Starkenberg, Annika, Nilsson, K. Peter R., Thor, Stefan and Hammarstrom, Per (2018). Aggregated A beta 1-42 is selectively toxic for neurons, whereas glial cells produce mature fibrils with low toxicity in Drosophila. Cell Chemical Biology, 25 (5), 595-610.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.03.006
Salmani, Behzad Yaghmaeian, Cobeta, Ignacio Monedero, Rakar, Jonathan, Bauer, Susanne, Curt, Jesus Rodriguez, Starkenberg, Annika and Thor, Stefan (2018). Evolutionarily conserved anterior expansion of the central nervous system promoted by a common PcG-Hox program. Development, 145 (7) dev160747, dev160747. doi: 10.1242/dev.160747
Neural lineage progression controlled by a temporal proliferation program
Bahrampour, Shahrzad, Gunnar, Erika, Jonsson, Carolin, Ekman, Helen and Thor, Stefan (2017). Neural lineage progression controlled by a temporal proliferation program. Developmental Cell, 43 (3), 332-348.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.10.004
Fernius, Josefin, Starkenberg, Annika and Thor, Stefan (2017). Bar-coding neurodegeneration: identifying subcellular effects of human neurodegenerative disease proteins using Drosophila leg neurons. Disease Models and Mechanisms, 10 (8), 1027-1038. doi: 10.1242/dmm.029637
Fernius, Josefin, Starkenberg, Annika, Pokrzywa, Malgorzata and Thor, Stefan (2017). Human TTBK1, TTBK2 and MARK1 kinase toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster is exacerbated by co-expression of human Tau. Biology Open, 6 (7), 1013-1023. doi: 10.1242/bio.022749
Nervous system development: temporal patterning of large neural lineages
Thor, Stefan (2017). Nervous system development: temporal patterning of large neural lineages. Current Biology, 27 (10), R392-R394. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.070
Cobeta, Ignacio Monedero, Salmani, Behzad Yaghmaeian and Thor, Stefan (2017). Anterior-posterior gradient in neural stem and daughter cell proliferation governed by spatial and temporal Hox control. Current Biology, 27 (8), 1161-1172. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.023
Stratmann, Johannes and Thor, Stefan (2017). Neuronal cell fate specification by the molecular convergence of different spatio-temporal cues on a common initiator terminal selector gene. PLoS Genetics, 13 (4) e1006729, e1006729. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006729
Neuronal cell fate diversification controlled by sub-temporal action of Kruppel
Stratmann, Johannes, Gabilondo, Hugo, Benito-Sipos, Jonathan and Thor, Stefan (2016). Neuronal cell fate diversification controlled by sub-temporal action of Kruppel. Elife, 5 e19311. doi: 10.7554/eLife.19311
Bahrampour, Shahrzad and Thor, Stefan (2016). Ctr9, a key component of the Paf1 complex, affects proliferation and terminal differentiation in the developing Drosophila nervous system. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, 6 (10), 3229-3239. doi: 10.1534/g3.116.034231
Gabilondo, Hugo, Stratmann, Johannes, Rubio-Ferrera, Irene, Millan-Crespo, Irene, Contero-Garcia, Patricia, Bahrampour, Shahrzad, Thor, Stefan and Benito-Sipos, Jonathan (2016). Neuronal cell fate specification by the convergence of different spatiotemporal cues on a common terminal selector cascade. PLoS Biology, 14 (5) e1002450, e1002450. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002450
Control of neural daughter cell proliferation by multi-level notch/Su(H)/E(spl)-HLH signaling
Bivik, Caroline, MacDonald, Ryan B., Gunnar, Erika, Mazouni, Khalil, Schweisguth, Francois and Thor, Stefan (2016). Control of neural daughter cell proliferation by multi-level notch/Su(H)/E(spl)-HLH signaling. Plos Genetics, 12 (4) e1005984, e1005984. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005984
Gunnar, Erika, Bivik, Caroline, Starkenberg, Annika and Thor, Stefan (2016). Sequoia controls the type I>0 daughter proliferation switch in the developing Drosophila nervous systems. Journal of Cell Science, 143 (20), 3774-3784. doi: 10.1242/dev.139998
Allan, Douglas W. and Thor, Stefan (2015). Transcriptional selectors, masters, and combinatorial codes: regulatory principles of neural subtype specification. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Developmental Biology, 4 (5), 505-528. doi: 10.1002/wdev.191
Novel genes involved in controlling specification of Drosophila FMRFamide neuropeptide cells
Bivik, Caroline, Bahrampour, Shahrzad, Ulvklo, Carina, Nilsson, Patrik, Angel, Anna, Fransson, Fredrik, Lundin, Erika, Renhorn, Jakob and Thor, Stefan (2015). Novel genes involved in controlling specification of Drosophila FMRFamide neuropeptide cells. Genetics, 200 (4), 1229-1244. doi: 10.1534/genetics.115.178483
Jonson, Maria, Pokrzywa, Malgorzata, Starkenberg, Annika, Hammarstrom, Per and Thor, Stefan (2015). Systematic A beta analysis in Drosophila reveals high toxicity for the 1-42, 3-42 and 11-42 peptides, and emphasizes N- and C-terminal residues. Plos One, 10 (7) 0133272, e0133272. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133272
Baumgardt, Magnus, Karlsson, Daniel, Salmani, Behzad Y., Bivik, Caroline, MacDonald, Ryan B., Gunnar, Erika and Thor, Stefan (2014). Global programmed switch in neural daughter cell proliferation mode triggered by a temporal gene cascade. Developmental Cell, 30 (2), 192-208. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.06.021
Neuroscience: stem cells in multiple time zones
Thor, Stefan (2013). Neuroscience: stem cells in multiple time zones. Nature, 498 (7455), 441-443. doi: 10.1038/nature12261
Klumpfuss controls FMRFamide expression by enabling BMP signaling within the NB5-6 lineage
Losada-Perez, Maria, Gabilondo, Hugo, Molina, Isabel, Turiegano, Enrique, Torroja, Laura, Thor, Stefan and Benito-Sipos, Jonathan (2013). Klumpfuss controls FMRFamide expression by enabling BMP signaling within the NB5-6 lineage. Development, 140 (10), 2181-2189. doi: 10.1242/dev.089748
Ulvklo, Carina, MacDonald, Ryan, Bivik, Caroline, Baumgardt, Magnus, Karlsson, Daniel and Thor, Stefan (2012). Control of neuronal cell fate and number by integration of distinct daughter cell proliferation modes with temporal progression. Development, 139 (4), 678-689. doi: 10.1242/dev.074500
Curcumin promotes a-beta fibrillation and reduces neurotoxicity in transgenic Drosophila
Caesar, Ina, Jonson, Maria, Nilsson, K. Peter R., Thor, Stefan and Hammarstrom, Per (2012). Curcumin promotes a-beta fibrillation and reduces neurotoxicity in transgenic Drosophila. Plos One, 7 (2) e31424, e31424. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031424
Seven up acts as a temporal factor during two different stages of neuroblast 5-6 development
Benito-Sipos, Jonathan, Ulvklo, Carina, Gabilondo, Hugo, Baumgardt, Magnus, Angel, Anna, Torroja, Laura and Thor, Stefan (2011). Seven up acts as a temporal factor during two different stages of neuroblast 5-6 development. Development, 138 (24), 5311-5320. doi: 10.1242/dev.070946
Insights into hox protein function from a large scale combinatorial analysis of protein domains
Merabet, Samir, Litim-Mecheri, Isma, Karlsson, Daniel, Dixit, Richa, Saadaoui, Mehdi, Monier, Bruno, Brun, Christine, Thor, Stefan, Vijayraghavan, K., Perrin, Laurent, Pradel, Jacques and Graba, Yacine (2011). Insights into hox protein function from a large scale combinatorial analysis of protein domains. PLoS Genetics, 7 (10) e1002302, e1002302. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002302
Segment-specific generation of Drosophila Capability neuropeptide neurons by multi-faceted Hox cues
Suska, Anke, Miguel-Aliaga, Irene and Thor, Stefan (2011). Segment-specific generation of Drosophila Capability neuropeptide neurons by multi-faceted Hox cues. Developmental Biology, 353 (1), 72-80. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.02.015
Benito-Sipos, Jonathan, Estacio-Gomez, Alicia, Moris-Sanz, Marta, Baumgardt, Magnus, Thor, Stefan and Diaz-Benjumea, Fernando J. (2010). A genetic cascade involving klumpfuss, nab and castor specifies the abdominal leucokinergic neurons in the Drosophila CNS. Development, 137 (19), 3327-3336. doi: 10.1242/dev.052233
Karlsson, Daniel, Baumgardt, Magnus and Thor, Stefan (2010). Segment-specific neuronal subtype specification by the integration of anteroposterior and temporal cues. Plos Biology, 8 (5) ARTN e1000368, e1000368. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000368
Efficient imaging of amyloid deposits in Drosophila models of human amyloidoses
Berg, Ina, Nilsson, K. Peter R., Thor, Stefan and Hammarstrom, Per (2010). Efficient imaging of amyloid deposits in Drosophila models of human amyloidoses. Nature Protocols, 5 (5), 935-944. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2010.41
Neuronal subtype specification within a lineage by opposing temporal feed-forward loops
Baumgardt, Magnus, Karlsson, Daniel, Terriente, Javier, Diaz-Benjumea, Fernando J. and Thor, Stefan (2009). Neuronal subtype specification within a lineage by opposing temporal feed-forward loops. Cell, 139 (5), 969-982. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.10.032
Programmed cell death in the nervous system - a programmed cell fate?
Miguel-Aliaga, Irene and Thor, Stefan (2009). Programmed cell death in the nervous system - a programmed cell fate?. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 19 (2), 127-133. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2009.04.002
Modeling familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (Transthyretin V30M) in Drosophila melanogaster
Berg, Ina, Thor, Stefan and Hammarstrom, Per (2009). Modeling familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (Transthyretin V30M) in Drosophila melanogaster. Neurodegenerative Diseases, 6 (3), 127-138. doi: 10.1159/000213761
Neuroscience: light moulds plastic brains
Thor, Stefan (2008). Neuroscience: light moulds plastic brains. Nature, 456 (7219), 177-178. doi: 10.1038/456177a
Postmitotic specification of Drosophila insulinergic neurons from pioneer neurons
Miguel-Aliaga, Irene, Thor, Stefan and Gould, Alex P. (2008). Postmitotic specification of Drosophila insulinergic neurons from pioneer neurons. PLoS Biology, 6 (3) e58, 538-551. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060058
Specification of neuronal identities by feedforward combinatorial coding
Baumgardt, Magnus, Miguel-Aliaga, Irene, Karlsson, Daniel, Ekman, Helen and Thor, Stefan (2007). Specification of neuronal identities by feedforward combinatorial coding. PLoS Biology, 5 (2), 295-308. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0050037
Garces, Alain, Bogdanik, Laurent, Thor, Stefan and Carroll, Patrick (2006). Expression of Drosophila BarH1-H2 homeoproteins in developing dopaminergic cells and segmental nerve a (SNa) motoneurons. European Journal of Neuroscience, 24 (1), 37-44. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.04887.x
Garces, Alain and Thor, Stefan (2006). Specification of Drosophila aCC motoneuron identity by a genetic cascade involving even-skipped, grain and zfh1. Development, 133 (8), 1445-1455. doi: 10.1242/dev.02321
Zfh1, a somatic motor neuron transcription factor, regulates axon exit from the CNS
Layden, Michael J., Odden, Joanne P., Schmid, Aloisia, Garces, Alain, Thor, Stefan and Doe, Chris Q. (2006). Zfh1, a somatic motor neuron transcription factor, regulates axon exit from the CNS. Developmental Biology, 291 (2), 253-263. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2005.12.009
Development of Drosophila motoneurons: Specification and morphology
Landgraf, Matthias and Thor, Stefan (2006). Development of Drosophila motoneurons: Specification and morphology. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 17 (1), 3-11. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2005.11.007
Development and structure of motoneurons
Landgraf, Matthias and Thor, Stefan (2006). Development and structure of motoneurons. International Review of Neurobiology, 75, 33-53. doi: 10.1016/S0074-7742(06)75002-4
Regulators acting in combinatorial codes also act independently in single differentiating neurons
Allan, Douglas W., Park, Dongkook, St Pierre, Susan E., Taghert, Paul H. and Thor, Stefan (2005). Regulators acting in combinatorial codes also act independently in single differentiating neurons. Neuron, 45 (5), 689-700. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2005.01.026
Miguel-Aliaga, Irene, Allan, Douglas W. and Thor, Stefan (2004). Independent roles of the dachshund and eyes absent genes in BMP signaling, axon pathfinding and neuronal specification. Development, 131 (23), 5837-5848. doi: 10.1242/dev.01447
Miguel-Aliaga, Irene and Thor, Stefan (2004). Segment-specific prevention of pioneer neuron apoptosis by cellautonomous, postmitotic Hox gene activity. Development, 131 (24), 6093-6105. doi: 10.1242/dev.01521
Certel, Sarah J. and Thor, Stefan (2004). Specification of Drosophila motoneuron identity by the combinatorial action of POU and LIM-HD factors. Development, 131 (21), 5429-5439. doi: 10.1242/dev.01418
Together at last: bHLH and LIM-HD regulators cooperate to specify motor neurons
Allan, Douglas W. and Thor, Stefan (2003). Together at last: bHLH and LIM-HD regulators cooperate to specify motor neurons. Neuron, 38 (5), 675-677. doi: 10.1016/S0896-6273(03)00329-5
Allan, Douglas W., St Pierre, Susan E., Miguel-Aliaga, Irene and Thor, Stefan (2003). Specification of neuropeptide cell identity by the integration of retrograde BMP signaling and a combinatorial transcription factor code. Cell, 113 (1), 73-86. doi: 10.1016/S0092-8674(03)00204-6
Genetic control of Drosophila nerve cord development
Skeath, James B. and Thor, Stefan (2003). Genetic control of Drosophila nerve cord development. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 13 (1), 8-15. doi: 10.1016/S0959-4388(03)00007-2
Motor neuron specification in worms, flies and mice: conserved and 'lost' mechanisms
Thor, Stefan and Thomas, John B. (2002). Motor neuron specification in worms, flies and mice: conserved and 'lost' mechanisms. Current Opinion in Genetics and Development, 12 (5), 558-564. doi: 10.1016/S0959-437X(02)00340-4
St Pierre, Susan E., Galindo, Maximo I., Couso, Juan P. and Thor, Stefan (2002). Control of Drosophila imaginal disc development by rotund and roughened eye: differentially expressed transcripts of the same gene encoding functionally distinct zinc finger proteins. Development, 129 (5), 1273-81. doi: 10.1242/dev.129.5.1273
St Pierre, Susan E., Galindo, Maximo I., Couso, Juan P. and Thor, Stefan (2002). Control of Drosophila imaginal disc development by rotund and roughened eye: differentially expressed transcripts of the same gene encoding functionally distinct zinc finger proteins. Development, 129 (5), 1273-1281.
Herzig, Martin C. , Thor, Stefan, Thomas, John B., Reichert, Heinrich and Hirth, Frank (2001). Expression and function of the LIM homeodomain protein Apterous during embryonic brain development of Drosophila. Development Genes and Evolution, 211 (11), 545-554. doi: 10.1007/s00427-001-0195-y
Chip is an essential cofactor for Apterous in the regulation of axon guidance in Drosophila
van Meyel, D.J., O'Keefe, D.D., Thor, S., Jurata, L.W., Gill, G.N. and Thomas, J.B. (2000). Chip is an essential cofactor for Apterous in the regulation of axon guidance in Drosophila. Development, 127 (9), 1823-1831.
Chip and apterous physically interact to form a functional complex during Drosophila development
van Meyel, Donald J., O'Keefe, David D., Jurata, Linda W., Thor, Stefan, Gill, Gordon N. and Thomas, John B. (1999). Chip and apterous physically interact to form a functional complex during Drosophila development. Molecular Cell, 4 (2), 259-265. doi: 10.1016/S1097-2765(00)80373-1
A LIM-homeodomain combinatorial code for motor-neuron pathway selection
Thor, Stefan, Andersson, Siv G. E. , Tomlinson, Andrew and Thomas, John B. (1999). A LIM-homeodomain combinatorial code for motor-neuron pathway selection. Nature, 397 (6714), 76-80. doi: 10.1038/16275
Benveniste, R.J., Thor, S., Thomas, J.B. and Taghert, P.H. (1998). Cell type-specific regulation of the Drosophila FMRF-NH2 neuropeptide gene by Apterous, a LIM homeodomain transcription factor. Development, 125 (23), 4757-4765.
Function and specificity of LIM domains in Drosophila nervous system and wing development
O'Keefe, D.D., Thor, S and Thomas, J.B. (1998). Function and specificity of LIM domains in Drosophila nervous system and wing development. Development, 125 (19), 3915-3923.
The Drosophila islet gene governs axon pathfinding and neurotransmitter identity
Thor, S and Thomas, JB (1997). The Drosophila islet gene governs axon pathfinding and neurotransmitter identity. Neuron, 18 (3), 397-409. doi: 10.1016/S0896-6273(00)81241-6
Appel, B., Korzh, V., Glasgow, E., Thor, S., Edlund, T., Dawid, I. B. and Eisen, J. S. (1995). Motoneuron fate specification revealed by patterned LIM homeobox gene expression in embryonic zebrafish. Development, 121 (12), 4117-4125.
The genetics of brain development: Conserved programs in flies and mice
Thor, Stefan (1995). The genetics of brain development: Conserved programs in flies and mice. Neuron, 15 (5), 975-977. doi: 10.1016/0896-6273(95)90084-5
Control of neuronal pathway selection by the Drosophila LIM homeodomain gene apterous
Lundgren, S. E., Callahan, C. A., Thor, S. and Thomas, A. B. (1995). Control of neuronal pathway selection by the Drosophila LIM homeodomain gene apterous. Development, 121 (6), 1769-1773.
Islet expression of Rhombotin and Isl-1 suggests cell type specific exposure of LIM-domain epitopes
Lund, Kaare , Petersen, Jacob S., Jensen, Jan , Blume, Niels , Edlund, Thomas , Thor, Stefan and Madsen, Ole D. (1995). Islet expression of Rhombotin and Isl-1 suggests cell type specific exposure of LIM-domain epitopes. Endocrine, 3 (6), 399-408. doi: 10.1007/BF02935644
Korzh, V. , Edlund, T. and Thor, S. (1993). Zebrafish primary neurons initiate expression of the LIM homeodomain protein Isl-1 at the end of gastrulation. Development, 118 (2), 417-425.
Early stages of motor neuron differentiation revealed by expression of homeobox gene Islet-1
Ericson, J., Thor, S., Edlund, T., Jessell, T. M. and Yamada, T. (1992). Early stages of motor neuron differentiation revealed by expression of homeobox gene Islet-1. Science, 256 (5063), 1555-1560. doi: 10.1126/science.1350865
Thor, Stefan, Ericson, Johan, Brännström, Thomas and Edlund, Thomas (1991). The homeodomain LIM protein Isl-1 is expressed in subsets of neurons and endocrine cells in the adult rat. Neuron, 7 (6), 881-889. doi: 10.1016/0896-6273(91)90334-V
Ohlsson, Helena, Thor, Stefan and Edlund, Thomas (1991). Novel Insulin Promoter- and Enhancer-Binding Proteins That Discriminate between Pancreatic Alpha and Beta Cells. Molecular Endocrinology, 5 (7), 897-904. doi: 10.1210/mend-5-7-897
Karlsson, Olof, Thor, Stefan, Norberg, Torbjörn, Ohlsson, Helena and Edlund, Thomas (1990). Insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1 is a member of a novel class of proteins containing both a homeo-and a Cys–His domain. Nature, 344 (6269), 879-882. doi: 10.1038/344879a0
Cis- and transacting elements regulating insulin gene transcription
Ohlsson, H., Karlsson, O., Norberg, T., Thor, S. and Edlund, T. (1989). Cis- and transacting elements regulating insulin gene transcription. Elsevier Science Publishers B.V..
Developing an in vitro human sleep system
(2023–2025) NHMRC IDEAS Grants
What drives the Anterior Expansion of the Central Nervous System?
(2023–2025) ARC Discovery Projects
(2023–2024) Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative - Pilot Award
Understanding the generation of hypothalamic sleep neurons
(2022–2025) ARC Discovery Projects
(2019) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
Generating hypothalamic neurons from human stem cells
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
How epigenetic modifiers regulate brain size
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Bioinformatics of epigenetics at multiple scales: from evolution of epigenetic factors to tracing their marks in organellar development
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Elucidating the role of Human Aminoacyl multi- tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) in Hypomyelination with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and leg spasticity (HBSL)
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
The role of transcription factor Tead1 in cortical development
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Understanding cell state changes during metamorphosis in Amphimedon queenslandica
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Cell Type Definition from Single Cell RNA-seq
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Machine learning models of epigenetic dynamics driving cell fate
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
The role of the Polycomb protein Eed in the mouse cerebral cortex
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
The role of the hypothalamic neuropeptide Npvf in mouse fertility and sleep-wake behaviours
The hypothalamic neuropeptide Npvf is expressed by a very small subset of neurons within the hypothalamus. Npvf has been implicated in fertility, seasonal mating behaviour and sleep-wake behaviours, in several different mammalian species, as well as in the zebrafish. But these studies have been based upon correlative experiments, RNAi and peptide injections, and the Npvf gene has hitherto not beek knocked out. we have geneerated a condititional null allele of Npvf. This project aims to address the effect of a null mutation in Npvf upon a set of mouse behaviours.
The role of the mouse Tead1/Vgll2 transcription factors in dictating hypothalamic cell fate
The hypothalamic neuropeptide Npvf is expressed by a very small subset of neurons within the hypothalamus. Npvf has been implicated in fertility, seasonal mating behaviour and sleep-wake behaviours. Using single cell transcriptional profiling, we and others have identified the transcription factors Tead1 and Vgll2 as selectively expressed in Npvf neurons in the mouse hypothalamus. The Tead and Vgll families typically interact and form a complex. We have generated a mouse Tead1 knock-out, and found that the Npvf neurons are missing. The project aims to address the underlying reason for the phenotype. We are also in the process of obtaining the mouse Vgll2 knockout, to be able to compare the effects of this knock-out with that of Tead1.