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Scientist Profile

John Lowe

Senior Director, Pathology
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"Harnessing scientific inquiry for the development of new drugs is an exciting and important endeavor and is made especially satisfying by the scientifically rigorous environment at Genentech."

I joined Genentech in 2008 as Senior Director of Pathology. The role of Senior Director of Pathology in Research at Genentech offered attractive opportunities to do research in an outstanding, disease-focused scientific environment, while also leading the growth and development of the scientific discovery and research support activities of the Pathology department. These efforts will help Genentech continue to make a major positive difference to the health and well being of a large number of patients afflicted with cancer, autoimmune syndromes, neurodegenerative diseases and other illnesses for which therapies are unsatisfactory or nonexistent.

An exceptional team of pathologists, scientific associates and administrative staff now in the department will collaborate with me in these efforts. Additional outstanding pathologists and staff will be recruited to assist us in developing the department. Our task will be made more straightforward by the environment here at Genentech, which is characterized by exceptionally bright, motivated and collaborative colleagues at every level; spectacular facilities, and workplace philosophies that are conducive to the highest levels of achievement.

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My Focus

Each pathologist in my department maintains his or her own research program that typically aligns with the research programs supervised by scientists in Research Oncology, Immunology, Molecular Biology and Physiological Chemistry. These research projects include understanding basic mechanisms of angiogenesis - how these go awry in association with oncogenesis, and how such aberrancies provide therapeutic opportunities.

Other projects include those that focus on developing an understanding of the basis for molecular heterogeneity in breast cancer and on discovering how faults in the mucosal immune system initiate and perpetuate the pathology of inflammatory bowel disease.

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Publications & Recognition
  • Notch-dependent control of myelopoiesis is regulated by fucosylation
  • Blood 2008 Mar 21; [Epub ahead of press]
  • Zhou L, Li LW, Yan Q, Petryniak B, Man Y, Su C, Shim J, Chervin S, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Critical functions of N-glycans in L-selectin-mediated lymphocyte homing and recruitment
  • Nat Immunol 2007 Apr; 8(4): 409-18
  • Mitoma J, Bao X, Petryanik B, Schaerli P, Gauguet JM, Yu SY, Kawashima H, Saito H, Ohtsubo K, Marth JD, Khoo KH, von Andrian UH, Lowe JB, Fukuda M
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • N-acetylglucosamine-6-O-sulfotransferase 1 and 2 cooperatively control lymphocyte homing through L-selectin ligand biosynthesis in high endothelial venules
  • Nat Immunol 2005 Nov; 6(11): 1096-104
  • Kawashima H, Petryniak P, Hiraoka N, Mitoma J, Huckaby V, Nakayama J, Uchimura K, Kadomatsu K, Muramatsu T, Lowe JB, Fukuda M
  • View Abstract on PubMed
 
View All Publications & Recognition
 
  • Genentech, Pathology Department
  • Senior Director
  • 2008
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
  • Henry Willson Payne Professor and Chair of Pathology
  • 2005-2008
  • University of Michigan Medical School
  • Professor of Pathology
  • Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor in Medicine
  • 1995-2005
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Investigator
  • 1997-2005
  • University of Michigan Medical School
  • Associate Professor of Pathology
  • 1991-1995
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Associate Investigator
  • 1992-1996
  • University of Michigan Medical School
  • Assistant Professor of Pathology
  • 1986-1991
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Assistant Investigator
  • 1986-1992
  • Washington University School of Medicine
  • Instructor/Assistant Professor
  • Assistant Director, Barnes Hospital Blood Bank
  • Departments of Pathology and Internal Medicine
  • 1984-1986
  • Washington University School of Medicine
  • Post-doctoral Fellowships with Doug Berg and Jeff Gordon
  • 1982-1984
  • Washington University School of Medicine
  • Barnes Hospital
  • Chief Resident, Laboratory Medicine (Diplomate, American Board of Pathology, 1984)
  • 1983-1984
  • Washington University School of Medicine
  • Barnes Hospital
  • Resident, Laboratory Medicine
  • 1980-1983
  • University of Utah College of Medicine
  • M.D
  • 1976-1980
  • University of Wyoming
  • B.A. High Honors, Mathematics
  • 1972-1976
Publications & Recognition
  • Notch-dependent control of myelopoiesis is regulated by fucosylation
  • Blood 2008 Mar 21; [Epub ahead of press]
  • Zhou L, Li LW, Yan Q, Petryniak B, Man Y, Su C, Shim J, Chervin S, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Critical functions of N-glycans in L-selectin-mediated lymphocyte homing and recruitment
  • Nat Immunol 2007 Apr; 8(4): 409-18
  • Mitoma J, Bao X, Petryanik B, Schaerli P, Gauguet JM, Yu SY, Kawashima H, Saito H, Ohtsubo K, Marth JD, Khoo KH, von Andrian UH, Lowe JB, Fukuda M
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • N-acetylglucosamine-6-O-sulfotransferase 1 and 2 cooperatively control lymphocyte homing through L-selectin ligand biosynthesis in high endothelial venules
  • Nat Immunol 2005 Nov; 6(11): 1096-104
  • Kawashima H, Petryniak P, Hiraoka N, Mitoma J, Huckaby V, Nakayama J, Uchimura K, Kadomatsu K, Muramatsu T, Lowe JB, Fukuda M
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Role of glycosylation in development
  • Annu Rev Biochem 2004; 73: 491-537
  • Haltiwanger RS, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Strain-specific modification of lethality in fucose-deficient mice
  • Mamm Genome 2003 Feb; 14(2): 130-9
  • Becker DJ, Myers JT, Ruff MM, Smith PL, Gillespie BW, Ginsburg DW, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • A genetic approach to Mammalian glycan function
  • Annu Rev Biochem 2003; 72: 643-91
  • Lowe JB, Marth JD
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Conditional control of selectin ligand expression and global fucosylation events in mice with a targeted mutation at the FX locus
  • J Cell Biol 2002 Aug 19; 158(4): 801-15
  • Smith PL, Myers JT, Rogers CE, Zhou L, Petryniak B, Becker DJ, Homeister JW, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Fuc-TVII is required for Th1 and Tc1 lymphocyte selectin ligand expression and recruitment in inflammation, and together with Fuc-TIV regulates naïve T cell trafficking to lymph nodes
  • J Exp Med 2001 Sep 3; 194(5): 601-14
  • Smithson G, Rogers CE, Smith PL, Scheidegger EP, Petryniak B, Myers JT, Kim DS, Homeister JW, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • The (1,3)fucosyltransferases Fuc-TIV and Fuc-TVII exert collaborative control over selectin-dependent leukocyte recruitment and lymphocyte homing
  • Immunity 2001 Jul; 15(1): 115-26
  • Homeister JW, Thall AD, Petryniak B, Maly P, Rogers CE, Smith PL, Kelly RJ, Gersten KM, Askari SW, Cheng G, Smithson G, Marks RM, Misra AK, Hindsgaul O, von Andrian UH, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Specialized contributions by alpha(1,3)-fucosyltransferase-IV and FucT-VII during leukocyte rolling in dermal microvessels
  • Immunity 2000 Jun; 12(6): 665-76
  • Weninger W, Ulfman LH, Cheng G, Souchkova N, Quackenbush EJ, Lowe JB, von Andrian UH
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • A novel, high endothelial venule-specific sulfotransferase expresses of 6-sulfo sialyl Lewis(x), an L-selectin ligand displayed by CD34
  • Immunity 1999 Jul; 11(1): 79-89.
  • Hiraoka N, Petryniak B, Nakayama J, Tsuboi S, Suzuki M, Yeh JC, Izawa D, Tanaka T, Miyasaka M, Lowe JB, Fukuda M
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Mvwf, a dominant modifier of murine von Willebrand factor, results from altered lineage-specific expression of a glycosyltransferase
  • Cell 1999 Jan 8; 96(1): 111-120
  • Mohlke KL, Purkayastha AA, Westrick RJ, Smith PL, Petryniak B, Lowe JB, Ginsburg D
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Therapeutic inhibition of carbohydrate-protein interactions in vivo
  • J Clin Invest 1997 Mar 1; 99(5): 822-6
  • Lowe JB, Ward PA
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • The (1,3)fucosyltransferase Fuc TVII controls leukocyte trafficking through an essential role in L-, E-, and P selectin ligand biosynthesis
  • Cell 1996 Aug 23; 86(4): 643-53
  • Maly P, Thall AD, Petryniak B, Rogers CE, Smith PL, Marks RM, Kelly RJ, Gersten KM, Cheng G, Saunders TL, Camper SA, Camphausen RT, Sullivan FX, Isogai Y, Hindsgaul O, von Adrian UH, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Sequence and expression of a candidate for the human Secretor blood group alpha(1,2)fucosyltransferase gene (FUT2). Homozygosity for an enzyme-inactivating nonsense mutation commonly correlates with the non-secretor phenotype
  • J Biol Chem 1995 Mar 3; 270(9): 4640-9
  • Kelly RJ, Rouquier S, Giorgi D, Lennon GG, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Molecular cloning of a human genomic region containing the H blood group alpha(1,2)fucosyltransferase gene and two H locus-related DNA restriction fragments. Isolation of a candidate for the human Secretor blood group locus
  • J Biol Chem 1995 Mar 3; 270(9): 4632-9
  • Rouquier S, Lowe JB, Kelly RJ, Fertitta AL, Lennon GG, Giorgi D
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Molecular basis for H blood group deficiency in Bombay (Oh) and para-Bombay individuals
  • Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1994 Jun 21; 91(13): 5843-7
  • Kelly RJ, Ernst LK, Larsen RD, Bryant JG, Robinson JS, and Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Isolation of a novel human alpha (1,3)fucosyltransferase gene and molecular comparison to the human Lewis blood group alpha (1,3/1,4)fucosyltransferase gene. Syntenic, homologous, nonallelic genes encoding enzymes with distinct acceptor substrate specificities
  • J Biol Chem 1992 Feb 25; 267(6): 4152-60
  • Weston BW, Nair RP, Larsen RD, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Synthesis and structural analysis using 2-D NMR of sialyl Lewis X (SLex) and Lewis X (Lex) oligosaccharides: ligands related to E-selectin (ELAM-1) binding
  • J Am Chem Soc 1992; 114: 5449-51
  • Ball GE, O'Neill R, Schultz JE, Lowe JB, Weston BW, Nagy JO, Brown EG, Hobbs C, Bednarski MD
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Specificity, inhibition and synthetic utility of a recombinant human alpha (1,3)fucosyltransferase
  • J Am Chem Soc 1992; 114: 7321-22
  • Wong CH, Dumas DP, Ichikawa Y, Koseki K, Danishefsky SJ, Weston BW, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • ELAM-1-dependent cell adhesion to vascular endothelium determined by a transfected human fucosyltransferase cDNA
  • Cell 1990 Nov 2; 63(3): 475-84
  • Lowe JB, Stoolman LM, Nair RP, Larsen RD, Berhend TL, Marks RM
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • ELAM-1-dependent cell adhesion to vascular endothelium determined by a transfected human fucosyltransferase cDNA
  • Cell 1990 Nov 2; 63(3): 475-84
  • Lowe JB, Stoolman LM, Nair RP, Larsen RD, Berhend TL, Marks RM
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Molecular cloning, sequence, and expression of a human GDP-L-fucose:beta-D-galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase cDNA that can form the H blood group antigen
  • Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1990 Sep; 87(17): 6674-8
  • Larsen RD, Ernst LK, Rajan VP, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • A cloned human cDNA determines expression of a mouse stage-specific embryonic antigen and the Lewis blood group alpha(1,3/1,4)fucosyltransferase
  • Genes Dev 1990 Aug; 4(8): 1288-303
  • Kukowska-Latallo JF, Larsen RD, Nair RP, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Isolation of a cDNA encoding a murine UDPgalactose:beta-D-galactosyl- 1,4-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminide alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase: expression cloning by gene transfer
  • Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1989 Nov; 86(21): 8227-31
  • Larsen RD, Rajan VP, Ruff MM, Kukowska-Latallo J, Cummings RD, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • A cloned human DNA restriction fragment determines expression of a GDP-L-fucose: beta-D-galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase in transfected cells. Evidence for isolation and transfer of the human H blood group locus
  • J Biol Chem 1989 Jul 5; 264(19): 11158-67
  • Rajan VP, Larsen RD, Ajmera S, Ernst LK, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • A product of the Tn5 transposase gene inhibits transposition
  • Genetics 1983 Apr; 103(4): 605-15
  • Lowe JB, Berg DE
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Mechanism of F factor-enhanced excision of transposon Tn5
  • Gene 1983 Apr; 22(1): 1-7
  • Berg DE, Egner C, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Specificity of transposon Tn5 insertion
  • Genetics 1983 Dec; 105(4): 813-28
  • Berg DE, Schmandt MA, Lowe JB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
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Awards & Honors
  • Henry Willson Payne Professorship at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine - 2005
  • Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science - 2002
  • Elected Member, American Association of Physicians - 1999
  • American Society of Clinical Pathologists Philip Levine Outstanding Research Award - 1997
  • Warner Lambert/Parke Davis Professorship in Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Medicine - 1994
  • Elected Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation - 1994
  • Howard and Martha Holley Symposium Research Prize in Rheumatology, American College of Rheumatology - 1993
  • Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Award in Experimental Pathology - 1992
  • American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow - 1981-1983
  • Phi Beta Kappa, University of Wyoming - 1975
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Ellen Filvaroff, Senior Scientist and Alex Avardo, Receipent of Free Medicine From the Genentech® Access to Care Foundation, on the cover of Genentech's 2006 Annual Report.