Hans Laufer

Professor Emeritus

Molecular and Cell Biology


Retired: 1997

Education and Employment: B.S. City College of the City of New York, 1952;  M.S. Brooklyn College, NY, 1954; Ph.D. Cornell University, 1957; Postdoctoral study: National Research Council Fellow, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Dept. of Embryology, 1957-1959. Assistant Professor, Biology Dept. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 1959-1965. Associate Professor, University of Connecticut 1965-1972.  Professor, Molecular and Cell Biology, 1972-1998.  Research Professor, 1998-.

Research Interests: Gene regulation during development and reproduction; hormonal and molecular interactions; comparative endocrinology of invertebrates.
(1) studying hormones affecting reproduction, morphogenesis and metamorphosis of invertebrates and
(2) developing crustacean aquaculture techniques.
We are particularly interested in elucidating the signal transduction pathways involved in the regulation of reproductive development in invertebrates, especially Crustacea and Annelids.

Selected Publications:
From a total of 174, not including abstracts:

Laufer, H., D. Borst, F.C. Baker, C. Carrasco,   M. Sinkus,   C.C. Reuter, L.W. Tsai, and D.S. Schooley. 1987 Identification of a juvenile hormone-like compound in a crustacean. Science 235:202-205

Downer, R. and Laufer, H (eds.). 1983. Invertebrate Endocrinology, Endocrinology of Insects, Vol. I.   A.R. Liss, Inc.  New York, pp. 1-707.

Laufer, H. and R. Downer (eds.). 1988. Invertebrate Endocrinology, Endocrinology of Selected Invertebrate Types, Vol.II.   A.R. Liss, Inc. New York, pp. 1-522.

Laufer, H.   Method for Increasing Crustacean Laval Production United States Patent & Trademark Office,Patent Number 5,161,481 (Nov 10, 1992)

Liu, L., H. Laufer, Y. Wang, and T. Hayes.   1997.   A Neurohormone regulating both methyl farnesoate synthesis and glucose metabolism in a crustacean.   Biochem. Biophys.   Research Communications.   237:694-701.

Liu, L.,H. Laufer, P.J. Gogarten, and M. Wang.   1997.   cDNA cloning of a mandibular organ inhibiting hormone from the spider crab Libinia emarginata. Invert.   Neuroscience. 3: 199-204

Biggers W.J., Laufer, H.,   1999.   Settlement and Metamorphosis of Capitella larvae induced by juvenile hormone-active compounds is mediated by protein kinase C and ion channels.   Biol. Bull. 196:187-190.

Laufer, H. and W.J. Biggers. 2001.   Unifying concepts learned from methyl farnesoate for invertebrate reproduction and post-embryonic development.   Amer. Zool. 41: 442-457.

Laufer, H. , Ahl,J.,Rotlant, G.,Baclaski, B., 2002. Ecdysteroids and methyl farnesoate control allometric growth and differentiation in a crustacean. Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 32: 205-210.

Laufer,H. , Johnson, M., Homola, E. .and Biggers, W. 2002. An assay for multiple MO activity. Proc. Euro. Comp. Endocrinol. 21: 399-404

Biggers W.J., and H. Laufer, 2004. Identification of juvenile hormone-active alkylphenols in the lobster Homarus americanus and in marine sediments. Biol. Bull. 206: 13-24

Laufer, H. and E. H. Baehrecke, 2004. “Regulation of Cell Growth, Differentiation, and Death during Metamorphosis. In: Cell Cycle and Growth Control: Biomolecular Regulation and Cancer“. Gary S. Stein and Arthur Pardee, editors, Wiley- Liss publishers, NY. Pgs 369-395.

Laufer H., N. Demir, X. Pan, J.D. Stuart, and J.S.B. Ahl. 2005. Methyl farnesoate controls adult male morphogenesis in the crayfish Procambarus clarkii. 2005. J. Insect Physiol. 54: 51:379-384

Laufer, H., Demir, N., and Biggers, W. 2005. Response of the American lobster to the stress of shell disease. J. Shellfish Res. 24: 757-760.

Laufer, H. Demir, N., and Pan, X. 2005. Shell disease in the American lobster and its possible relations to alkyphenols. New England Aquarium Journal 05: 73-75.

Laufer, H. Demir, N. Capulong, C. Pan, X. Biggers, W. 2005. Hormonal responses of lobsters to stresses of Long Island Sound. Long Island Sound Research Conference Proceedings . 7: 41-43.

Laufer, H., Pan, X., Biggers, W.J., Capulong, C., Stuart, J., Demir, N., Koehn, U. 2005. Lessons learned from inshore and deep-sea lobsters concerning alkyphenols. Invertebrate Reproduction & Development. 48:109-117.
Laufer, H., Demir, N., Capulong, C, Pan, X., Biggers, W.J. 2006. Hormonal Responses to Lobsters of Long Island Sound. Long Island Sound Research Conference Proceedings. 7:41-43.

Demir, N., H. Laufer. 2006 The Effect of Shell Abrasion on Molting in Procambus clarkii. Long Island Sound Research Conference Proceedings. 8. 66-70.

Crain, D. A., Eriksen, M., Iguchi, T., Jobling, S., Laufer, H., Leblanc, G. A., and Guilette Jr., L. J. 2007. An Ecological Assessment of Bisphenol-A: Evidence from Comparative Biology. Effects of BPA on Wildlife. Reproductive Toxicology. 24:240-252.

Laufer, H. among others. 2007. Chapel Hill bisphenol A expert panel consensus statement: Integration of mechanisms, effects in animals and potential to impact human health at current levels of exposure. Reproductive Toxicology. 24. 131-138.

Valfopoulou, X., Laufer, H., and Steel, C. G. H. 2007. Spatial and temporal distribution of the receptor (EcR) in haemocytes and epidermal cells during wound healing in the crayfish Procambus clarkii. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 152. 359-370

Demir, N., H. Laufer. 2007 The Effect of Shell Abrasion on Molting in Procambus clarkii. Long Island Sound Research Conference Proceedings. 8. 66-70.

Vom Saal et al. 2007. Chapel Hill bisphenol A expert panel consensus statement: Integration of mechanisms, effects in animals and potential to impact human health at current levels of exposure. Reproductive Toxicology. 24. 240-252.

Jacobs, M., H. Laufer, J. Stuart, M. Chang, X. Pan. 2008. Alkylphenols and Lobsters in Long Island Sound: Patterns, Mechanisms, and Consequences. Long Island Sound Research Conference Proceeding 9: 43-50.

Myers JP, Vom Saal FS, et al. 2009. Why public health agencies cannot depend upon ‘good laboratory practices’ as a criterion for selecting data: the case of bisphenol-A. Environmental Health Perspectives. 117:309-315.

Laufer, H., and B. Baclaski. 2012. Alkylphenols affect lobster (Homarus americanus) larval survival, molting and metamorphosis. Inv. Reprod. Devel. 56: 66-71.

Laufer, H., Chen, M. Johnson, M., Demir, N., and Bobbitt, J.M. 2012. The Effect of Alkylphenols on Lobster Shell Hardening. J.Shellfish Res. 31(2): 555-562.

Jacobs, M., H. Laufer, J.D. Stuart, M. Chen, and X. Pan. 2012. Endocrine disrupting alkylphenols are widespread in the blood of lobsters from Southern New England and adjacent offshore areas. J.Shellfish Res. 31(2): 53-71.

Laufer, H., Chen, M. Baclaski, B. Bobbitt, JM. Stuart, JD. Zuo, Y. and Jacobs, M.W. 2013. Multiple factors in marine environments affecting lobster survival, development, and growth, with emphasis on alkylphenols: a perspective. Canadian J. Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 70(11): 1588-1600.
Laufer, H., and M. Fingerman 2014. “Endocrine System (Invertebrate)”. McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. Stefan Malmoli, Editor. McGraw Hill Publisher. In Press.

Hans Laufer
Contact Information
Emailhans.laufer@uconn.edu
Phone860-933-8238
Fax860-486-4331
Mailing Address91 North Eagleville Road, Unit 3125, Storrs, CT 06269-3125