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Professor Emeritus Hans Laufer
picture Professor Emeritus Hans Laufer
University of Connecticut
Molecular and Cell Biology
Torrey Life Science
91 North Eagleville Road, Unit 3125
Storrs, CT 06269-3125

Telephone: (860) 486-4117
Fax: (860) 486-4331
E-Mail: Laufer@uconn.edu

Education: Ph.D. Cornell University. Postdoctoral study: National Research Council Fellow, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Dept. of Embryology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.

Research Interests: Gene regulation during development and reproduction; hormonal and molecular interactions; comparative endocrinology of invertebrates.
(1) studying hormones affecting reproduction, morphogenesis and metamorphosis of invertebrates and
(2) developing crustacean aquaculture techniques.
We are particularly interested in elucidating the signal transduction pathways involved in the regulation of reproductive development in invertebrates, especially Crustacea and Annelids.

Selected Publications:
Laufer, H., D. Borst, F.C. Baker, C. Carrasco,   M. Sinkus,   C.C. Reuter, L.W. Tsai, and D.S. Schooley. 1987 Identification of a juvenile hormone-like compound in a crustacean. Science 235:202-205

Laufer, H. and R. Downer (eds.). 1988. Invertebrate Endocrinology, Endocrinology of Selected Invertebrate Types, Vol.II.   A.R. Liss, Inc. New York, pp. 1-522.

Laufer, H.   Method for Increasing Crustacean Laval Production United States Patent & Trademark Office,Patent Number 5,161,481 (Nov 10, 1992)

Liu, L., H. Laufer, Y. Wang, and T. Hayes.   1997.   A Neurohormone regulating both methyl farnesoate synthesis and glucose metabolism in a crustacean.   Biochem. Biophys.   Research Communications.   237:694-701.

Liu, L.,H. Laufer, P.J. Gogarten, and M. Wang.   1997.   cDNA cloning of a mandibular organ inhibiting hormone from the spider crab Libinia emarginata. Invert.   Neuroscience. 3: 199-204

Biggers W.J., Laufer, H.,   1999.   Settlement and Metamorphosis of Capitella larvae induced by juvenile hormone-active compounds is mediated by protein kinase C and ion channels.   Biol. Bull. 196:187-190.

Laufer, H. and W.J. Biggers. 2001.   Unifying concepts learned from methyl farnesoate for invertebrate reproduction and post-embryonic development.   Amer. Zool. 41: 442-457.

Laufer, H. , Ahl,J.,Rotlant, G.,Baclaski, B., 2002. Ecdysteroids and methyl farnesoate control allometric growth and differentiation in a crustacean. Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 32: 205-210.

Laufer,H. , Johnson, M., Homola, E. .and Biggers, W. 2002. An assay for multiple MO activity. Proc. Euro. Comp. Endocrinol. 21: 399-404

Biggers W.J., and H. Laufer, 2004. Identification of juvenile hormone-active alkylphenols in the lobster Homarus americanus and in marine sediments. Biol. Bull. 206: 13-24

Laufer, H. and E. H. Baehrecke, 2004. "Regulation of Cell Growth, Differentiation, and Death during Metamorphosis. In: Cell Cycle and Growth Control: Biomolecular Regulation and Cancer". Gary S. Stein and Arthur Pardee, editors, Wiley- Liss publishers, NY. Pgs 369-395.

Laufer H., N. Demir, X. Pan, J.D. Stuart, and J.S.B. Ahl.   Methyl farnesoate controls adult male morphogenesis in the crayfish Procambarus clarki. 2005. J. Insect Physiol. 54: 379-384

Laufer, H., Demir, N., and Biggers, W. 2005. Response of the American lobster to the stress of shell disease. J. Shellfish Res. 24: 757-760.

Laufer, H. Demir, N., and Pan, X. 2005. Shell disease in the American lobster and its possible relations to alkyphenols. New England Aquarium Journal 05: 73-75.

Laufer, H. Demir, N. Capulong, C. Pan, X. Biggers, W. 2005. Hormonal responses of lobsters to stresses of Long Island Sound. Long Island Sound Research Conference Proceedings . 7: 41-43.


Laufer, H., Demir, N., Capulong, C, Pan, X., Biggers, W.J. 2006. Hormonal Responses to Lobsters of Long Island Sound. Long Island Sound Research Conference Proceedings. 7:41-43.

Demir, N., H. Laufer. 2006 The Effect of Shell Abrasion on Molting in Procambus clarkii. Long Island Sound Research Conference Proceedings. 8. 66-70.

Crain, D. A., Eriksen, M., Iguchi, T., Jobling, S., Laufer, H., Leblanc, G. A., and Guilette Jr., L. J. 2007. An Ecological Assessment of Bisphenol-A: Evidence from Comparative Biology. Effects of BPA on Wildlife. Reproductive Toxicology. 24:240-252.

Laufer, H. among others. 2007. Chapel Hill bisphenol A expert panel consensus statement: Integration of mechanisms, effects in animals and potential to impact human health at current levels of exposure. Reproductive Toxicology. 24. 131-138.

Valfopoulou, X., Laufer, H., and Steel, C. G. H. 2007. Spatial and temporal distribution of the receptor (EcR) in haemocytes and epidermal cells during wound healing in the crayfish Procambus clarkii. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 152. 359-370