Anna Petryk, M.D.

Associate Professor
Mayo Mail Code 404
420 Delaware St. SE
Minneapolis, MN  55455
Phone: (612) 624-5409
Fax:    (612) 626-5262
petry005@umn.edu

Dr. Anna Petryk is interested in mammalian development and the molecular mechanisms underlying tissue differentiation and organogenesis. In particular, the laboratory of Dr. Petryk is interested in studying the role of BMP and Wnt signaling pathways in embryonic development. Recent work has focused on the role of Twisted gastrulation (Twsg1), a BMP antagonist, in forebrain and skeletal development using a mouse model with a targeted deficiency of the Twsg1 gene. Twsg-deficient mice have brain defects typical of holoprosencephaly, characterized by the failure of the prosencephalon to undergo median cleavage into cerebral hemispheres. Holoprosencephaly is the most common structural anomaly of the developing forebrain in humans with a prevalence of 1 in 250 during early embryogenesis. The majority of Twsg1 mutants have defects in jaw development. Less severely affected mice exhibit lack of dorsal closure of the vertebral arches (spina bifida occulta).

Dr. Petryk is also interested in endocrine late effects in long term survivors of cancer and/or bone marrow transplantation. She has a grant to prospectively study bone mineralization and turnover in pediatric patients after BMT.

For more information go to GCD faculty listing at http://www.gcd.med.umn.edu/html/faculty