²ÝÁñÉçÇøÈë¿Ú

Email

wcraigen@bcm.edu

Positions

Professor

Molecular and Human Genetics
²ÝÁñÉçÇøÈë¿Ú
Houston, TX US

Professor

Pediatrics
²ÝÁñÉçÇøÈë¿Ú

Professor

Program in Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine
²ÝÁñÉçÇøÈë¿Ú

Director

Metabolic Clinic
²ÝÁñÉçÇøÈë¿Ú

Medical Director

Baylor Genetics

Member

Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center
²ÝÁñÉçÇøÈë¿Ú
Houston, Texas United States

Education

BS from University Of Texas At Austin

01/1981 - Austin, TX United States

BA from University Of Texas At Austin

01/1981 - Austin, TX United States

PhD from Baylor College Of Medicine

01/1987 - Houston, TX United States

MD from Baylor College Of Medicine

01/1988 - Houston, TX United States

Residency at Baylor College Of Medicine Affiliate Hospitals

01/1988 - Houston, Texas United States

Pediatrics

Clinical Fellowship at Baylor College Of Medicine Affiliate Hospitals

01/1990 - Houston, Texas United States

Medical Genetics

Certifications

Clinical Genetics

American Board of Medical Genetics

Clinical Biochemical Genetics

American Board of Medical Genetics

Professional Interests

• Regulation of cellular energy metabolism
• Genetic Disorders and Metabolic Disorders
• Mouse models of metabolic diseases

Professional Statement

Mitochondrial Function: Mitochondria are now recognized to play a variety of important physiologic roles in various processes beyond ATP synthesis, including programmed cell death (apoptosis), retrograde signaling, cellular proliferation and the regulation of intermediary metabolism. One area of interest in the lab is in understanding the role of the mitochondrial outer membrane permeability in the regulation of cellular energy economy, apoptosis and mammalian organ function. Voltage-dependent Anion Channels (VDAC1-3: also known as mitochondrial porins) are a family of mitochondrial outer membrane proteins that conduct small molecules across the outer membrane. VDACs also bind cytosolic kinases such as hexokinase isoforms, and may act to tether other multi-protein complexes to mitochondria. One isoform (VDAC2) functions in suppressing apoptosis by binding the multi-domain pro-apoptotic protein BAK, while other isoforms play roles in glucose metabolism, learning and memory and fertility. Using model organisms we are interested in determining the specific functions of each isoform in biology and relating VDAC function to disease states. These studies involve biochemical, physiologic and genetic experimentation.

Human Metabolic Disorders: Despite advances in identifying human metabolic diseases, pathophysiologic mechanisms are poorly understood and specific treatment strategies lacking. Other projects in the laboratory involve studies of metabolic pathways leading to human inherited disorders. Using mutant mice, our current studies are designed to understand the metabolic disturbances that are associated defects in phospholipid and fatty acid metabolism, purine and creatine synthesis and mitochondrial respiratory chain activities. We are interested in defining cell type-specific functions for the enzymes of intermediary metabolism using knockout mice in conjunction with tissue-specific transgene expression.

Websites

Selected Publications

• Craigen WJ, Graham BH, Wong LJ, Scaglia F, Lewis RA, Bonnen PE "." BMC Med Genet. 2013;14:83. Pubmed PMID:
• Craigen WJ "." Methods Mol Biol. 2012;837:41348. Pubmed PMID:
• Raghavan A, Sheiko T, Graham BH, Craigen WJ "." Biochim Biophys Acta. 2012 Jun;1818(6):1477-85. Pubmed PMID:
• Akman HO, Sheiko T, Tay SK, Finegold MJ, Dimauro S, Craigen WJ "." Hum Mol Genet. 2011 Nov 15;20(22):4430-9. Pubmed PMID:

Memberships

American Society of Human Genetics

Member

Society for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Member

American Society for the Advancement of Science

Member

The Biophysical Society Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders

Member