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Thomas Thompson
Thomas 
Thompson
, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

B.S. and M.S. , Northern Illinois University , IL

Ph.D. , University of Wisconsin , WI

Postdoctoral Fellow , Northwestern University , IL

Ligands of the TGF-beta superfamily, consisting of the subfamilies TGF-beta, BMP's and activin's, play a critical role in modulating cellular growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Signaling molecules are secreted and play a major role in cell communication. They are essential during development, vital components of the male and female reproductive axis, can stimulate inflammation and immune surveillance and are involved in tissue regeneration and wound healing. The pathologies of many cancers and other diseases are associated with aberrant signaling.

Our recent work has started to lay the foundation for understanding the structural similarities and differences within subfamilies that are important for signaling. To better understand the details of human diseases associated with aberrant TGF-beta signaling, our laboratory continues to focus on deciphering the molecular details of multiple regulatory events in the TGF-beta superfamily. Our laboratory utilizes X-ray crystallography along with other biophysical and biochemical methodologies to analyze protein complexes important for proper signaling.

Support for trainees is available from a Training Grant in Cardiovascular Research. This training program can be viewed at the following web site: CV Training Grant

Selected Publications:
  • Stamler, R., Keutmann, H.T., Sidis, Y., Kattamuri, C., Schneyer, A., and Thompson, T.B. (2008) The structure of FSTL3.activin A complex. Differential binding of N-terminal domains influences follistatin-type antagonist specificity. J Biol Chem, Nov, 283(47): 32831-8.
  • Cook, R. W., Thompson, T. B., Kurup, S. P., Jardetzky, T. S., and Wookdruff, T. K. (2005) Structural basis for a functional antagonist in the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. J Biol Chem 280:40177-40186.
  • Thompson, T. B., Lerch, T. F., Cook, R. W., Woodruff, T. K., and Jardetzky, T. S. (2005) The structure of the follistatin:activin complex reveals antagonism of both type I and type II receptor binding. Dev Cell 9:535-543.
  • Yuan, P., Thompson, T. B., Wurzburg, B. A., Paterson, R. G., Lamb, R. A., and Jardetzky, T. S. (2005) Structural studies of the parainfluenza virus 5 hemagglutinin-neuraminidase tetramer in complex with its receptor, sialyllactose. Structure 13:803-815.
  • Thompson, T. B., Cook, R. W., Chapman, S. C., Jardetzky, T. S., and Woodruff, T. K. (2004) Beta A versus beta B: is it merely a matter of expression? Mol Cell Endocrinol 225:9-17.
  • Thompson, T. B., Katayama, K., Watanabe, K., Hutchinson, C. R., and Rayment, I. (2004) Structural and functional analysis of tetracenomycin F2 cyclase from Streptomyces glaucescens. A type II polyketide cyclase. J Biol Chem 279:37956-37963.
  • Thompson TB, Woodruff TK, and Jardetzky TS. (2003) Structures of an ActRIIB:activin A complex reveal a novel binding mode for TGF-beta ligand:receptor interactions EMBO. J. Apr 1;22(7):1555-66

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