Rebeka Merson

Fogarty Life Science (401) 456-8906 rmerson@ric.edu

Academic Background

Ph.D., University of Rhode Island

Courses Taught

BIOL 109

Research Interests

Mechanisms of cell cycle regulation by ligand-activated transcription factors; Reproductive toxicity of environmental contaminants; Molecular evolution of gene families involved in the biochemical responses to the environment.

Publications

Hahn, M. E., S. I. Karchner, B. R. Evans, D. G. Franks, R. R. Merson & J. M. Lapseritis. 2006. Unexpected diversity of aryl hydrocarbon receptors in non-mammalian vertebrates: Insights from comparative genomics. Journal of Experimental Zoology 305A:693-706.

Merson, R. R., S. I. Karchner, D. G. Franks & M. E. Hahn. 2005. Development and characterization of polyclonal antibodies against the aryl hydrocarbon receptor protein family (AHR1, AHR2, and AHR repressor) of Atlantic killifish Fundulus heteroclitus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C, Toxicology & Pharmacology 142:85-94.

Merson, R. R. & H. L. Pratt, Jr. 2005. Sandbar shark nurseries in New Jersey and NewYork: Evidence of the northern pupping grounds along the United States east coast. In: Shark Nursery Grounds of the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast waters of the United States. C. McCandless, N. Kohler, eds. American Fisheries Society Book (in press).

Yang, X., Liu, D., Murray, T. J., Mitchell, G. C., Hestermann, E. V., Karchner, S. I., Merson, R. R., Hahn, M. E., & Sherr, D. H. 2005. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor constitutively represses c-myc transcription in human mammary tumor cells. Oncogene 24:7869-7881.

Hahn, M. E., R. R. Merson & S. I. Karchner. 2005. Xenobiotic receptors in fish: Structural and functional diversity and evolutionary insights. In: Biochemical and Molecular Biology of Fishes Volume 6 Environmental Toxicology. T. W. Moon, T. P. Mommson, eds. pp. 191-228.

Hahn, M. E., S. I. Karchner, D. G. Franks & R. R. Merson. 2004. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor polymorphisms and dioxin resistance in Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus). Pharmacogenetics. 14:131-143.

Deegan, L. A., A. Wright, S. G. Ayvazian, J. T. Finn, H. Golden, R. R. Merson & J. Harrison. 2002. Nitrogen loading alters seagrass ecosystem structure and support of higher trophic levels. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 12:193-212.

Merson, R. R. & H. L. Pratt, Jr. 2001. Distribution, movements and growth of young sandbar sharks in Delaware Bay. Environmental Biology of Fishes 61:13-24.

Merson. R. R., C. Casey, C. Martinez, B. Soffientino, M. Chandlee & J. L. Specker. 2000. Oocyte development in summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus): Seasonal changes and steroid correlates. Journal of Fish Biology 57:182-196.