Nusrat and Parkos Laboratories
Emory Epithelial Pathobiology Unit
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Postdoctoral Fellows |
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Name: Porfirio Nava Degree: PhD Laboratory: Nusrat Email: pnava@emory.edu Project Summary: Our research is focused in understanding how the plasma membranes of adjacent cells are pressed together. Currently we are working with Desmosomes (DMs). DMs are localized patches that hold two cells tightly together. They also provide anchoring points for intermediate filaments to help build a strong structural framework. DMs have been revealed as targets for mutation in human diseases of skin and heart. These studies have revealed that DMs serve not only as structural ties that bind intermediate filaments to the plasma membrane, but also as regulators of cell signaling and differentiation. Recently, our studies highlight a novel mechanism by which Dsg2 regulates apoptosis during physiological differentiation and inflammation in simple epithelia. |
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Name: Chris Capaldo Degree: PhD Laboratory: Nusrat Email: ccapald@emory.edu Project Summary: I’m fascinated by the variety of ways cells sense and adapt to their environment. In multicellular organisms, cells are in constant contact with one another, providing a constant stream of information to the cell about its surroundings. In the lab we study the cell-to-cell contacts between epithelial cells. Epithelial cells act to separate an organism from its environment. The proteins that connect cells together form a belt that regulates solute passage between the cells. These proteins also act to tell the cell it is in close contact with other epithelial cells. In the intestine, defects in cell-cell contact have been linked to inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. To investigate the link between cell-cell contacts and epithelial tissue function, I’m studying Junctional Adhesion Molecule A (JAM-A), a transmembrane protein that spans the extra-cellular space. Defects in JAM-A function have been linked to epithelial barrier function as well as cell migration and differentiation. I’m currently investigating the mechanisms behind these processes using both in vivo and in vitro model systems. |
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Name: Stas Samarin Degree: PhD Laboratory: Nusrat Email: ssamari@emory.edu Project Summary: The apical junctional complex (AJC), encompassing tight junction (TJ) and adherens junction (AJ) plays a vital role in regulating barrier function of simple epithelia. The AJC is currently regarded as an integration center for intracellular signaling. The proteins of Rho family small GTPases (Rho, Rac and Cdc42) stand out as the most studied and most universal in context of AJC regulation. I am working on understanding how Rho family small GTPases regulate epithelial barrier function in both normal and pathological conditions by focusing on various Rho GTPases-mediated signaling pathways that control assembly, integrity and disassembly of the AJC. |
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Name: Stefan Koch Degree: PhD Laboratory: Nusrat Email : skoch2@emory.edu Project Summary: I am working on Wnt signaling in epithelial cells. Signaling through Wnt receptor is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that regulates a plethora of cellular functions, including -but not limited to- cell survival, proliferation and migration. How modulation of Wnt signaling affects epithelial homeostasis, and what molecules transmit outside-to-inside signals in epithelial cells is the main focus of our current studies. |
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Name: Abigail Betanzos Degree: PhD Laboratory: Parkos Email - abentan@emory.edu Project Summary: Several members of the CTX (cortical thymocyte marker in Xenopus) family are expressed on both leukocytes and epithelia and play a role in mucosal inflammation. Communication between leukocytes and epithelial cells is regulated by receptor mediated interactions. Recently, a number of members in the CTX family, including JAMs and CAR-like proteins, have been described in epithelial cells; however little is known about their function. Interestingly, these same proteins have been implicated in leukocyte transmigration. I am characterizing their expression in epithelial cells as well as their junctional biology. Additionally, I am interested in determining potential ligands on neutrophils for these proteins. |
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Name: Michael Schnoor Degree: PhD Laboratory: Parkos Email: mschnoo@emory.edu Project Summary: Adhesion molecules of the immunglobulin superfamily have been shown to play pivotal roles in leukocyte interactions with epithelial cells. A novel JAM-like protein, termed JAM-L, has been shown to bind to coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) and play a role in leukocyte transmigration. I am currently investigating the structural requirements for JAM-L ligand binding. Additionally, I am trying to elucidate the functional consequences of this interaction, with particular focus on epithelial permeability and leukocyte transmigration. I am also charcterizing a GTPase termed GBP-1, that we recently determined was inducibly expressed in intestinal epithelial cells after treatment with inflammatory cytokines. Although little is known about the function of GBP-1, our results suggest that the protein localizes to tight junctions and may play a role in regulating barrier function. |
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Name: Alex Chin Degree: PhD Laboratory: Parkos Email: achin@emory.edu Project Summary: I am currently investigating the role of protease-activated receptors in regulating epithelial barrier function and neutrophil-epithelial interactions, as well as how Toll-like receptors influence neutrophil signaling events. |
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Name: Eric Peatman Degree: PhD Laboratory: Parkos Email: epeatman@gmail.com Project Summary: I am interested in the roles of JAM-A and other IgSF members in epithelial cell permeability and inflammation. I am specifically involved in characterizing the complex phenotype of JAM-A KO mice. Through my research I want to answer questions such as: What are the functional consequences of JAM-A deficiency in various cell types and organ systems in healthy animals as well as under disease challenge? Furthermore, how does the immune system react to a leaky epithelium? I am additionally interested in the signalling pathways associated with adhesive and stimulatory events that regulate neutrophil migration across the epithelium. We are currently examining the pathways involved in activation, adhesion, and migration by utilizing transwell and chamber-slide systems and differentially stimulated neutrophils from human blood, WT mice, and mice KO models. |
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Name: Neal Beeman Degree: PhD Laboratory: Nusrat Email: nebeema@emory.edu Project Summary: |
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