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Ian R. Brown

Full Professor
Canada Research Chair (Tier I)
Department: 
Cell & Systems Biology
Research Areas: 
Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Cell & Developmental Biology, Neurobiology
Graduate Programs: 
Cell & Systems Biology, Neuroscience
Office phone: 
416-287-7413
Lab phone: 
416-287-7411
Fax: 
416-287-7676
Office: 
S 540
Lab: 
S 536

ibrown (at)utsc [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Address: 

Department of Biological Sciences
University of Toronto at Scarborough
1265 Military Trail
Scarborough, Ontario
Canada M1C 1A4

Research: 

Current research involves the investigation of the molecular biology of the mammalian brain at the following levels: (1) expression of heat shock (stress) genes in brain following hyperthermia and tissue injury (proteins encoded by these genes permit cells to survive traumatic conditions), (2) molecular cloning and developmental expression of neuronal-specific genes and glial-specific genes, (3) molecular cloning and expression of genes encoding brain extracellular matrix proteins.

  • Selected publications:
2008
Lively, S., Brown, I.R. (2008).  Extracellular matrix protein SC1/hevin in the hippocampus following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. J. Neurochem. 107, 1335-1346.
Asea, A.A., Brown, I.R. (2008).  Heat Shock Proteins and the Brain: Implications for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neuroprotection. (edited book with 19 chapters) Springer Science Publishers, New York . 1-373.
Brown, I.R. (2008).  Heat shock proteins at the synapse: implications for functional protection of the nervous system. In Heat Shock Proteins and the Brain: Implications for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neuroprotection, Asea, A.A., Brown, I.R. (eds). 239-254.
Lively, S., Brown, I.R. (2008).  Localization of the extracellular matrix protein SC1 coincides with synaptogenesis during rat postnatal development. Neurochem. Res. 33, 1692-1700.
Lively, S., Brown, I.R. (2008).  The extracellular matrix protein SC1/hevin localizes to excitatory synapses following status epilepticus in the rat lithium-pilocarpine model. J. Neurosci. Res. 86, 2895-2905.
2007
Lively, S., Brown, I. (2007).  Analysis of the extracellular matrix protein SC1 during reactive gliosis in the rat lithium-pilocarpine seizure model.. Brain Res.. 1163, 1-9.
Besshoh, S., Chen, S., Brown, I.R., Gurd, J.W. (2007).  Developmental changes in the association of NMDA receptors with lipid rafts.. J. Neurosci. Res.. 85, 1876-1883.
Brown, I. (2007).  Heat shock proteins and neurodegenerative diseases. In 'Cell Stress Proteins', Calderwood, S.K. (ed). Springer Science Publishers, New York. 396-421.
Brown, I.R. (2007).  Heat shock proteins and protection of the nervous system. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1113, 147-158.
Chow, A.M., Brown, I.R. (2007).  Induction of heat shock proteins in differentiated human and rodent neurons by celastrol. Cell Stress & Chaperones. 12, 237-244.
Lively, S., Ringuette, M., Brown, I. (2007).  Localization of the extracellular matrix protein SC1 to synapses in the adult rat brain.. Neurochem. Res.. 32, 65-71.
Chen, S., Brown, I. (2007).  Neuronal expression of constitutive heat shock proteins: implications for neurodegenerative diseases.. Cell Stress & Chaperones. 12, 51-58.
Chen, S., Brown, I. (2007).  Translocation of constitutively expressed heat shock protein Hsc70 to synapse-enriched areas of the cerebral cortex after hyperthermic stress.. J. Neurosci. Res.. 85, 402-409.
2006
Belay, H., Brown, I. (2006).  Cell death and expression of heat shock protein Hsc70 in the hyperthermic rat brain.. J. Neurochem.. 97(1), 116-119.
2005
Chen, S., Bawa, D., Besshoh, S., Gurd, J., Brown, I. (2005).  Association of heat shock proteins and neuronal membrane components with lipid rafts from the rat brain.. J. Neurosci. Res.. 15, 522-529.
2003
Bechtold, D., Brown, I. (2003).  Induction of Hsp27 and Hsp32 stress proteins and vimentin in glial cells of the rat hippocampus following hyperthermia.. Neurochem. Res.. 28, 1163-1173.
Belay, H., Brown, I. (2003).  Spatial analysis of cell death and Hsp70 induction in brain, thymus and bone marrow of the hyperthermic rat.. Cell Stress & Chaperones. 8, 395-404.
2002
Mothe, A., Brown, I. (2002).  Effect of hyperthermia on the transport of mRNA encoding the extracellular matrix glycoprotein SC1 in Bergmann glial cell processes.. Brain Res.. 931, 146-158.
Karunanithi, S., Barclay, J., Brown, I., Robertson, R., Atwood, H. (2002).  Enhancement of presynaptic performance in transgenic Drosophila overexpressing heat shock protein Hsp70.. Synapse. 44, 08 .
Khan, V., Brown, I. (2002).  The effect of hyperthermia on the induction of cell death in brain, testis, and thymus of the adult and developing rat.. Cell Stress & Chaperones. 7, 73-90.
2001
Mothe, A., Brown, I. (2001).  Differential mRNA expression of the related extracellular matrix glycoproteins SC1 and SPARC in the rat embryonic nervous system and skeletal structure.. Brain Res.. 892, 27-41.
Mothe, A., Brown, I. (2001).  Expression of mRNA encoding extracellular matrix glycoproteins SPARC and SC1 is temporally and spatially regulated in the developing cochlea of the rat inner ear.. Hearing Res.. 155, 161-174.
2000
Bechtold, D., Brown, I. (2000).  Heat shock proteins Hsp27 and Hsp32 localize to synaptic sites in the rat cerebellum following hyperthermia.. Molec. Brain Res.. 75, 309-320.
Morrison, A., Rush, S., Brown, I. (2000).  Heat shock transcription factors and the Hsp70 induction response in brain and kidney of the hyperthermic rat during postnatal development.. J.Neurochem.. 75, 363-372.
Mendis, D., Ivy, G., Brown, I. (2000).  Induction of SC1 mRNA encoding a brain extracellular matrix glycoprotein related to SPARC following lesioning of the adult rat forebrain.. Neurochem. Res.. 25, 1637-1644.
Bechtold, D., Rush, S., Brown, I. (2000).  Localization of the heat shock protein Hsp70 to the synapse following hyperthermic stress in the brain.. J. Neurochem.. 74, 641-646.
Mothe, A., Brown, I. (2000).  Selective transport of SC1 mRNA, encoding a putative extracellular matrix glycoprotein, during postnatal development of the rat cerebellum and retina.. Molec. Brain Res.. 76, 73-84.