Biomedical Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program
(B-SURE)
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA)
JIANG, Jean X.
(Biochemistry): The major research effort in my laboratory focuses
on understanding the function and regulation of gap junctions. Cells
connect and communicate via an information superhighway named gap junctions.
Gap junctions are clusters of transmembrane channels that connect the cytoplasms
of adjacent cells. These channels permit small metabolites, ions,
and second messengers to pass from cell to cell. Cells like lens
fibers within the interior of the vertebrate eye lens have neither a blood
supply nor organelles. Thus, lens survival and homeostasis are uniquely
dependent on intercellular communication via gap junctions with the cells
localized at the lens surface. For cells like bone osteocytes, signals
generated by shear stress induced by fluid flow can be transmitted extensively
at high speed through gap junction channels. Therefore, gap junctions provide
the critical means for cell survival and for physiological regulation of
cellular functions. Our current research interests are: 1). To determine
the regulation of lens gap junction protein connexins, their interaction
with other non-gap junction proteins, and their functional involvement
in cell signaling and lens development. 2). To explore the functional importance
of gap junctions in transmitting the signals generated by mechanical stress
for bone formation and remodeling.
The second
research project in my laboratory focuses on the study of amino acid transporters.
Cellular metabolic needs are fulfilled by import of amino acids across
the plasma membrane via specialized transporter proteins. We have
identified a new family of amino acid transporters. Our current research
interests are: 1). To characterize the functions and the structure-function
relationship of identified transporters. 2). To explore the biological
roles of the amino acid transporters in vivo. These studies will
assist in understanding the role of amino acid transporters in normal and
pathological processes. In my laboratory, the students will have
a great exposure to a wide variety of techniques including cell and tissue
culture; fluorescence microscopy and cryosectioning; retroviral methodology;
microinjection; molecular cloning techniques; protein isolation and analysis.
Jean
Jiang's Laboratory Web Page.
Introductory
movie.