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Jerrold Turner, M.D., Ph.D.Primary: Professor, Pathology Secondary: Committee on Cellular and Molecular PhysiologyCommittee on Molecular Medicine |
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Education:
Research SummaryResearch Synopsis: Transporting epithelia, such as those found in
the intestines, kidneys, and lungs, must balance absorptive and
secretory transport with the maintenance of a relatively impermeant barrier. Passive transport
across this barrier occurs between cells and is regulated by the tight
junction, the rate-limiting determinant that restricts passage of
hydrophilic solutes based on size and charge. Dysregulation
of barrier function has been associated with a variety of intestinal
and extra-intestinal diseases. Dr. Turner's laboratory has primarily used the
intestine as a model system in which to study the coordinated
regulation of transcellular and paracellular transport, with mechanisms
of this regulation and its disruption in disease the major focus of the
research efforts. To this end Dr. Turner's laboratory uses a broad
range of advanced techniques based on molecular genetic, proteomic, and
morphologic, and functional analysis of cultured cells, transgenic
animals, and human tissues. There are three major areas of investigation in
Dr. Turner's laboratory. The first focuses on tight junction regulation
secondary to physiological, pharmacological, and pathophysiological
stimuli using the full array of technologies listed above. Recent work
has pioneered live cell imaging using fluorescent fusion constructs of
tight junction proteins expressed in cell lines and transgenic animals. The second major area of interest focuses on
cytoskeletal regulation of cellular function, with particular emphasis
on actomyosin and myosin light chain kinase. These studies have led to
the identification of novel patterns of gene regulation and alternative
splicing that are closely related to cell differentiation and
specialized function in health and disease. The third major area of investigation takes
advantage of discoveries in the first two areas to better understand
pathogenesis of intestinal disease. For example, several peptides and
small molecules have been rationally-designed to modulate key
regulatory events. These are being tested for their ability to prevent
or treat disease in models of intestinal disease using
genetically-modified mice. Selected Publications
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