Overview
My research is focused on understanding brain disease mechanisms in neurodevelopmental/neurodegenerative disorders. I am also interested in how the brain develops and forms neuronal connections required for learning and memory formation. I obtained my PhD (2016-2020) from the University of Queensland in the laboratory of A/Prof. Dominic Ng where I gained comprehensive expertise in developmental neurobiology and the use of mouse models and Drosophila to study neural stem cell biology that gives rise to all neuronal subtypes in the brain. I identified novel functions of a kinase scaffolding protein involved in brain growth and hippocampal neurogenesis. I studied pathogenic mutations associated with microcephaly and identified subcellular mechanisms that contribute to the aetiology of the disease.
Following PhD, I undertook my post-doctoral training in Prof. Helen Cooper lab at Queensland Brain Institute, where I developed an interest in synaptic morphogenesis and plasticity pivotal for neuronal connectivity and brain wiring. Disruption of synaptic plasticity/connectivity results in neuropsychiatric disorders. I focused on an autism-associated gene network in hippocampal neurons that regulates actin polymerization, the main driving force for synaptic remodelling required for the processes of learning and memory.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Master of Research in Developmental Biology, University of Nottingham
Publications
-
Journal Article: RGMa and Neogenin control dendritic spine morphogenesis via WAVE Regulatory Complex-mediated actin remodeling
Sempert, Kai, Shohayeb, Belal, Lanoue, Vanessa, O’Brien, Elizabeth A., Flores, Cecilia and Cooper, Helen M. (2023). RGMa and Neogenin control dendritic spine morphogenesis via WAVE Regulatory Complex-mediated actin remodeling. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 16 ARTN 1253801, 1253801. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1253801
-
Journal Article: The ups and downs of Pax6 in neural stem cells
Shohayeb, Belal and Cooper, Helen M. (2023). The ups and downs of Pax6 in neural stem cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 299 (5) 104680, 104680. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104680
-
Journal Article: Cep55 regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling is required for neocortical development and ciliogenesis
Rashidieh, Behnam, Shohayeb, Belal, Bain, Amanda Louise, Fortuna, Patrick R. J., Sinha, Debottam, Burgess, Andrew, Mills, Richard, Adams, Rachael C., Lopez, J. Alejandro, Blumbergs, Peter, Finnie, John, Kalimutho, Murugan, Piper, Michael, Hudson, James Edward, Ng, Dominic C. H. and Khanna, Kum Kum (2021). Cep55 regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling is required for neocortical development and ciliogenesis. PLoS Genetics, 17 (10) e1009334, e1009334. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009334
Grants
-
(2021–2024) NHMRC IDEAS Grants
Available Projects
-
Identifying a molecular signalling network governing synapse formation
Abnormal synapse formation leads to diminished synaptic transmission and impaired cognitive function. The goal of this project is to identify the molecular pathways that govern synaptic connectivity. This research will not only provide key insights into the fundamental principles guiding the establishment of complex neural circuits, but will also shed light on the aberrant processes contributing to autism and schizophrenia. To address these questions the successful candidate will utilize the following experimental tools: developmental mouse models, in vitro neuronal culture systems, state-of-the-art molecular and imaging approaches, including super-resolution microscopy.
Publications
Journal Article
-
Sempert, Kai, Shohayeb, Belal, Lanoue, Vanessa, O’Brien, Elizabeth A., Flores, Cecilia and Cooper, Helen M. (2023). RGMa and Neogenin control dendritic spine morphogenesis via WAVE Regulatory Complex-mediated actin remodeling. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 16 ARTN 1253801, 1253801. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1253801
-
The ups and downs of Pax6 in neural stem cells
Shohayeb, Belal and Cooper, Helen M. (2023). The ups and downs of Pax6 in neural stem cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 299 (5) 104680, 104680. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104680
-
Cep55 regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling is required for neocortical development and ciliogenesis
Rashidieh, Behnam, Shohayeb, Belal, Bain, Amanda Louise, Fortuna, Patrick R. J., Sinha, Debottam, Burgess, Andrew, Mills, Richard, Adams, Rachael C., Lopez, J. Alejandro, Blumbergs, Peter, Finnie, John, Kalimutho, Murugan, Piper, Michael, Hudson, James Edward, Ng, Dominic C. H. and Khanna, Kum Kum (2021). Cep55 regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling is required for neocortical development and ciliogenesis. PLoS Genetics, 17 (10) e1009334, e1009334. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009334
-
Ho, Uda Y., Feng, Chun-Wei Allen, Yeap, Yvonne Y., Bain, Amanda L., Wei, Zhe, Shohayeb, Belal, Reichelt, Melissa E., Homer, Hayden, Khanna, Kum Kum, Bowles, Josephine and Ng, Dominic C. H. (2021). WDR62 is required for centriole duplication in spermatogenesis and manchette removal in spermiogenesis. Communications Biology, 4 (1) 645, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02171-5
-
Conservation of neural progenitor identity and the emergence of neocortical neuronal diversity
Shohayeb, Belal, Muzar, Zukhrofi and Cooper, Helen M. (2021). Conservation of neural progenitor identity and the emergence of neocortical neuronal diversity. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 118, 4-13. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.05.024
-
Shohayeb, Belal and Cooper, Helen M. (2021). Mosaic synapses in epilepsy. Science, 372 (6539), 235-236. doi: 10.1126/science.abh3555
-
Shohayeb, Belal, Ho, Uda Y., Hassan, Halah, Piper, Michael and Ng, Dominic C. H. (2020). The spindle-associated microcephaly protein, WDR62, is required for neurogenesis and development of the hippocampus. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 8 549353, 549353. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2020.549353
-
Shohayeb, Belal, Mitchell, Naomi, Millard, S. Sean, Quinn, Leonie M. and Ng, Dominic C.H. (2020). Elevated levels of Drosophila Wdr62 promote glial cell growth and proliferation through AURKA signalling to AKT and MYC. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Cell Research, 1867 (7) 118713, 118713. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118713
-
Shohayeb, Belal, Ho, Uda, Yeap, Yvonne Y., Parton, Robert G., Millard, Sean S., Xu, Zhiheng, Piper, Michael and Ng, Dominic C. H. (2020). The association of microcephaly protein WDR62 with CPAP/IFT88 is required for cilia formation and neocortical development. Human Molecular Genetics, 29 (2), 248-263. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddz281
-
Brown, Peter, Tan, Aik-Choon, El-Esawi, Mohamed A., Liehr, Thomas, Blanck, Oliver, Gladue, Douglas P., Almeida, Gabriel M. F., Cernava, Tomislav, Sorzano, Carlos O., Yeung, Andy W. K., Engel, Michael S., Chandrasekaran, Arun Richard, Muth, Thilo, Staege, Martin S., Daulatabad, Swapna V., Widera, Darius, Zhang, Junpeng, Meule, Adrian, Honjo, Ken, Pourret, Olivier, Yin, Cong-Cong, Zhang, Zhongheng, Cascella, Marco, Flegel, Willy A., Goodyear, Carl S., van Raaij, Mark J., Bukowy-Bieryllo, Zuzanna, Campana, Luca G., Kurniawan, Nicholas A. ... RELISH Consortium (2019). Large expert-curated database for benchmarking document similarity detection in biomedical literature search. Database-The Journal of Biological Databases and Curation, 2019, 1-67. doi: 10.1093/database/baz085
-
Factors that influence adult neurogenesis as potential therapy
Shohayeb, Belal, Diab, Mohamed, Ahmed, Mazen and Ng, Dominic Chi Hiung (2018). Factors that influence adult neurogenesis as potential therapy. Translational Neurodegeneration, 7 (1) 4, 1-19. doi: 10.1186/s40035-018-0109-9
-
Shohayeb, Belal, Lim, Nicholas Rui, Ho, Uda, Xu, Zhiheng, Dottori, Mirella, Quinn, Leonie and Ng, Dominic Chi Hiung (2017). The Role of WD40-Repeat Protein 62 (MCPH2) in Brain Growth: Diverse Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Required for Cortical Development. Molecular Neurobiology, 55 (7), 5409-5424. doi: 10.1007/s12035-017-0778-x
-
Lim, Nicholas R., Shohayeb, Belal, Zaytseva, Olga, Mitchell, Naomi, Millard, S. Sean, Ng, Dominic C. H. and Quinn, Leonie M. (2017). Glial-specific functions of microcephaly protein WDR62 and interaction with the mitotic kinase AURKA are essential for Drosophila brain growth. Stem Cell Reports, 9 (1), 32-41. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.05.015
Other Outputs
-
Shohayeb, Belal (2020). Characterization of the microcephaly gene wd40-repeat protein 62 (wdr62) in brain growth and development. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2020.770
Grants (Administered at UQ)
-
(2021–2024) NHMRC IDEAS Grants
Possible Research Projects
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
-
Identifying a molecular signalling network governing synapse formation
Abnormal synapse formation leads to diminished synaptic transmission and impaired cognitive function. The goal of this project is to identify the molecular pathways that govern synaptic connectivity. This research will not only provide key insights into the fundamental principles guiding the establishment of complex neural circuits, but will also shed light on the aberrant processes contributing to autism and schizophrenia. To address these questions the successful candidate will utilize the following experimental tools: developmental mouse models, in vitro neuronal culture systems, state-of-the-art molecular and imaging approaches, including super-resolution microscopy.
