Home » Faculty & Research » Rodney Samaco, Ph.D.
Rodney C. Samaco, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine
NIH Director's Early Independence Award Recipient
Research focus: Fragile X syndrome; Tuberous sclerosis complex; social behavior in mouse models of autism spectrum disorders
The primary research interest of the Samaco lab is to identify and understand the key neuroanatomical and molecular determinants of social behavior using mouse models of syndromic autism. Social behavior is governed by both genetic and environmental factors, yet the genetic basis for normal social behavior remains poorly explored in spite of a need to better understand it for human health. Through the use of genetically engineered mouse models combined with neurobehavioral measurements and high-throughput molecular and biochemical approaches, Dr. Samaco studies the temporal requirement of syndromic autism-causing genes for normal social behavior, and aims to uncover the molecular changes that are responsible for social behavior abnormalities in specific neuronal populations. Such work will provide the foundation for future studies designed to improve social behavior phenotypes in humans by either genetic or pharmacological means.
Publications
Adult neural function requires MeCP2.
Science. 2011 Jul 8;333(6039):186. Epub 2011 Jun 2.
McGraw CM, Samaco RC, Zoghbi HY.
Complexities of Rett syndrome and MeCP2.
J Neurosci. 2011 Jun 1;31(22):7951-9.
Samaco RC, Neul JL..
Dysfunction in GABA signalling mediates autism-like stereotypies and Rett syndrome phenotypes.
Nat Cell Nature. 2010 Nov 11;468(7321):263-9.
Chao HT, Chen H, Samaco RC, Xue M, Chahrour M, Yoo J, Neul JL, Gong S, Lu HC, Heintz N, Ekker M, Rubenstein JL, Noebels JL, Rosenmund C, Zoghbi HY.
Loss of MeCP2 in aminergic neurons causes cell-autonomous defects in neurotransmitter synthesis and specific behavioral abnormalities.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Dec 22;106(51):21966-71. Epub 2009 Dec 9.
Samaco RC, Mandel-Brehm C, Chao HT, Ward CS, Fyffe-Maricich SL, Ren J, Hyland K, Thaller C, Maricich SM, Humphreys P, Greer JJ, Percy A, Glaze DG, Zoghbi HY, Neul JL.
Deletion of Mecp2 in Sim1-expressing neurons reveals a critical role for MeCP2 in feeding behavior, aggression, and the response to stress.
Neuron. 2008 Sep 25;59(6):947-58.
Fyffe SL, Neul JL, Samaco RC, Chao HT, Ben-Shachar S, Moretti P, McGill BE, Goulding EH, Sullivan E, Tecott LH, Zoghbi HY.
Contact Information
Email:
rs125844(put an @ here)bcm.edu
Phone:
832-824-8788
832-825-1249 (fax)
Address:
Baylor College of Medicine
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
Jan and Dan Duncan Neurology Research Institute
at Texas
Children's Hospital
1250 Moursund St., Suite 1250
Houston, TX 77030
To learn more:
Contact nri_info(put an @ here)texaschildrens.org
