Michael Geusz

Research Interests:

My lab explores how circadian rhythms in cell physiology and animal behavior impact neurogenesis in the adult brain and multiple types of cancers. We have examined tumor formation and the progression of brain, esophageal, breast, and lung cancers by characterizing cancer stem cells and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that enables cell migration, metastasis, and resistance to cancer therapies. We also explore inhibitory effects of the phytochemical curcumin and related compounds on cancer stem cells and their interactions with the circadian timing system. The laboratory uses live cell imaging and mouse models along with electrophysiology and genomic, proteomic, and bioluminescence imaging techniques. We examine the regulation of circadian clocks by imaging gene expression rhythms in neural explants and other tissues maintained in culture. Ultimately, we are interested in identifying and characterizing the signaling mechanisms acting between the circadian clocks of the body during both normal and disease states.

Selected Publications:

Geusz ME, Malik A, De A. (2021) Insights into Oncogenesis from Circadian Timing in Cancer Stem Cells. Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis. 26: 1-17. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35381144/

De A, Beligala DH, Sharma VP, Burgos* CA, Lee* AM, Geusz ME. (2020) Cancer stem cell generation during epithelial-mesenchymal transition is temporally gated by intrinsic circadian clocks. Clinical and Experimental Metastasis. 37: 617-635. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32816185/

De, A., Beligala, D.H., Birkholz, T.M., Geusz, M.E. (2019) Anti-cancer properties of curcumin and interactions with the circadian timing system. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 18:1-10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6902383/

Beligala, D.H., De A., Malik, A., Silver, R., Rimu*, K., LeSauter, J., McQuillen*, H.J., Geusz, M.E. (2019) Musashi-2 and related stem cell proteins in the mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus and their potential role in circadian rhythms. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience. 75: 44-58. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31059735

Sarma, A., Sharma, V.P., Sarkar, A.B., Sekar, M.C., Samuel*, K., and Geusz, M.E. (2016) The circadian clock modulates anti-cancer properties of curcumin. BMC Cancer 16:759. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5041585/

Malik, A., Kondratov, R.V, Jamasbi, R.J., and Geusz, M.E. (2015) Circadian clock genes are essential for normal adult neurogenesis, differentiation, and fate determination. PLoS ONE 10: e0139655. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=PMC4595423

Malik, A., Jamasbi, R.J., Kondratov, R.V., and Geusz, M.E. (2015) Development of circadian oscillators in neurosphere cultures during adult neurogenesis. PLoS ONE 10: e0122937. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=PMC4380296

Sharma, V.P., Anderson*, N., and Geusz, M.E. (2014) Circadian properties of cancer stem cells in glioma cell cultures and tumorspheres. Cancer Letters 345: 65-74. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24333739/

Almanaa T.N., Geusz M.E., and Jamasbi R.J. (2013) A new method for identifying stem-like cells in esophageal cancer cell lines. Journal of Cancer 4: 536-548. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23983818/

Tosini, G., Doyle, S., Geusz, M., and Menaker, M. (2000). Induction of photosensitivity in neonatal rat pineal. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 97: 11540-11544. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11005846/

Geusz, M.E., Fletcher C., Block, G.D., Straume, M., Copeland, N.G., Jenkins, N.A., Kay, S.A., Day, R.N. (1997) Long term monitoring of circadian rhythms in c fos gene expression from suprachiasmatic nucleus cultures. Current Biology 7: 758-766. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9368758/

Herzog, E.D., Geusz, M.E., Khalsa, S.B., Straume, M., and Block, G.D. (1997) Circadian rhythms in mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus explants on multimicroelectrode plates. Brain Research 757: 285-290. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9200759/

Michel, S., Geusz, M.E., Zaritsky*, J.J., and Block, G.D. (1993) Circadian rhythm in membrane conductance expressed in isolated neurons. Science 259: 239-241. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8421785/

* indicates undergraduate students