This proposal is to renew funding for the Smooth Muscle Plasticity Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). The COBRE has expanded the research infrastructure and helped to develop the careers of several highly promising young investigators. The center has a strong thematic focus in smooth muscle biology. The COBRE consists of 5 projects that are investigating various aspects of smooth muscle plasticity. Project 1: Correlation between structural and motor defects in diabetic gastroparesis to be headed by Dr. Grant Hennig;Project 2: Phophoiamban and CaM Kinase II in smooth muscle plasticity to be headed by Dr. Brian Perrino;Project 3: An in vitro model system for determining regulatory mechanisms for smooth muscle mechanics to be led by Dr. Josh Baker;Project 4: Smooth muscle hypertrophy regulated by microRNAs and their target genes to be headed by Dr. Seungil Ro;Project 5: Stretch-dependent potassium channel regulation in overactive bladder to be led by Dr. Sang Don Koh. The projects are supported by Core lab facilities: Core A: Administration and faculty development;Core B: Molecular expression and transgenics;Core C: Protein expression and cell morphology;and Core D: Dynamic imaging. The COBRE will be administered by: i) the Central COBRE Administration consisting of the PI and Co-PI, administrative assistant and computer specialist;ii) an Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) with mentors for each project leader;and iii) an External Advisory Committee (EAC) consisting of leaders in smooth muscle biology. Mentors in the IAC are distinguished scientists with productive careers in biomedical research. The IAC establishes milestones for career development, performs formative and summative evaluation of progress toward milestones, and assists the Project Leaders in the central goal of developing independent funding and sustainable research careers. The COBRE is led by Drs. Kenton Sanders and Christine Cremo as PI and Co-PI, respectively. The PI and Co-PI are highly qualified, with many years of administrative and scientific experience in the thematic focus of the COBRE.

Public Health Relevance

Smooth muscles are unique among muscle lineages because they change phenotype in response to a variety of stimuli. Pathophysiological conditions result from phenotypic changes in smooth muscle tissues, but the cause and consequences of remodeling and hypertrophy are not well understood. Several disease models of smooth muscles will be used to learn how phenotypic change contributes to pathophysiology.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Exploratory Grants (P20)
Project #
8P20GM103513-09
Application #
8311047
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRR1-RI-B (01))
Program Officer
Gorospe, Rafael
Project Start
2003-09-01
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2012-08-01
Budget End
2013-07-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$2,074,187
Indirect Cost
$597,897
Name
University of Nevada Reno
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
146515460
City
Reno
State
NV
Country
United States
Zip Code
89557
Heredia, Dante J; Feng, Cheng-Yuan; Agarwal, Andrea et al. (2018) Postnatal Restriction of Activity-Induced Ca2+ Responses to Schwann Cells at the Neuromuscular Junction Are Caused by the Proximo-Distal Loss of Axonal Synaptic Vesicles during Development. J Neurosci 38:8650-8665
Brijs, Jeroen; Hennig, Grant W; Gräns, Albin et al. (2017) Exposure to seawater increases intestinal motility in euryhaline rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). J Exp Biol 220:2397-2408
Heredia, Dante J; Schubert, Douglas; Maligireddy, Siddhardha et al. (2016) A Novel Striated Muscle-Specific Myosin-Blocking Drug for the Study of Neuromuscular Physiology. Front Cell Neurosci 10:276
Scurry, Alexandra N; Heredia, Dante J; Feng, Cheng-Yuan et al. (2016) Structural and Functional Abnormalities of the Neuromuscular Junction in the Trembler-J Homozygote Mouse Model of Congenital Hypomyelinating Neuropathy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 75:334-46
Winbush, Ari; Gruner, Matthew; Hennig, Grant W et al. (2015) Long-term imaging of circadian locomotor rhythms of a freely crawling C. elegans population. J Neurosci Methods 249:66-74
An, Changlong; Bhetwal, Bhupal P; Sanders, Kenton M et al. (2015) Role of Telokin in Regulating Murine Gastric Fundus Smooth Muscle Tension. PLoS One 10:e0134876
Brijs, Jeroen; Hennig, Grant W; Axelsson, Michael et al. (2014) Effects of feeding on in vivo motility patterns in the proximal intestine of shorthorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius). J Exp Biol 217:3015-27
Sanders, Kenton M; Ward, Sean M; Koh, Sang Don (2014) Interstitial cells: regulators of smooth muscle function. Physiol Rev 94:859-907
Bhetwal, Bhupal P; Sanders, Kenton M; An, Changlong et al. (2013) Ca2+ sensitization pathways accessed by cholinergic neurotransmission in the murine gastric fundus. J Physiol 591:2971-86
Heredia, Dante J; Gershon, Michael D; Koh, Sang Don et al. (2013) Important role of mucosal serotonin in colonic propulsion and peristaltic reflexes: in vitro analyses in mice lacking tryptophan hydroxylase 1. J Physiol 591:5939-57

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