Photo of John H. Carson, Ph.D.

John H. Carson, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics
Academic Office Location:
Molecular Biology and Biophysics
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-6406
Phone: 860-679-2130
Fax: 860-679-1039
Website(s):

Carson Lab Page

Systems Biology (former Cell Analysis and Modeling) Graduate Program

Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Graduate Program

Neuroscience Graduate Program

Name & DescriptionCategoryRoleTypeScopeStart YearEnd Year
Health Center Appeals CommitteeAdvisory CommitteeUConn HealthUniversity2011
CHIPSAdvisory CommitteeUConn HealthUniversity2011
Cell Biol I execc ommEducation CommitteeUConn HealthUniversity2011
CAM exec commEducation CommitteeUConn HealthUniversity2011
NRCAM exec commResearch CommitteeUConn HealthUniversity2011
AAUP ConstitutionProfessional/Scientific OrganizationUConn HealthUniversity2011
AAUP Collective Bargaining CommitteeProfessional/Scientific OrganizationUConn HealthUniversity2011
Compensation task forceAdvisory CommitteeUConn HealthUniversity2011
SCOB Program ReviewEducation CommitteeChairUConn HealthUniversity20112012
Neuroscience Exec commEducation Committeeat large memberUConn HealthUniversity
CGS art commAdvisory CommitteeUniversity
This laboratory is investigating intracellular trafficking of mRNA in cells of the nervous system using a combination of molecular biological, microinjection, confocal microscopy and three dimensional visualization techniques. We have delineated an RNA trafficking pathway consisting of export from the nucleus, granule assembly in the perikaryon, transport of RNA granules in the processes, localization to the distal regions of the cell and translational activation. We are analyzing the cis/trans regulation of each step in this pathway and have identified a common 21 nucleotide RNA trafficking signal (RTS) in many different transported mRNAs that binds specifically to hnRNPA2 and is involved at various steps in the trafficking pathway. The laboratory is also investigating expression and intracellular trafficking of the gap junction protein, connexin 32, in oligodendrocytes using green fluorescent protein fusions, time lapse confocal imaging, and three dimensional visualization. The laboratory is also involved in developing a comprehensive computational simulation of cellular physiology and behavior. This project, termed the Virtual Cell, consists of a multidisciplinary team of cell biologists, molecular biologists, mathematicians, physicists, computer scientists, engineers and programmers. One goal of the project is to model the intracellular RNA trafficking pathway we have outlined.


Not accepting lab rotation students at this time


The Carson lab is studying RNA trafficking in neural cells using single molecule imaging, systems analysis and computational modeling in the Virtual Cell. Rotation students in this lab have the opportunity to learn cell culture, protein chemistry, microinjection, confocal microscopy, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and computational cell biology. Possible rotation projects in this lab:


1) characterizing dynamic molecular assemblies involved in RNA trafficking using photo-induced biotin transfer from hnRNP A2 to other molecular partners


2) defining conditional operators (EITHER OR, BOTH AND, ONLY IF) controlling molecular interactions in RNA trafficking using cross correlation FCS.

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

  • Oligodendrocyte differentiation: Quantitative studies in primary cultures of dissociated fetal rat brain
    Bansal R, Barbarese E, Bhat S, Carson J, Edgar A, Friederich V, Macklin W, Pfeiffer SE, Singh H, Woodiel F Glial-Neuronal Communication in Development and Regeneration, 1986 Jan;737-754

Conference Papers

Reviews