- Whitaker Health Science Research Award, 1983
- March of Dimes, Basil O'Conner Scholar Research Award, 1987
- ad hoc Member of Vis-A Study Section, National Eye Institute, NIH, 1992-1993
- Advisory Editor: Anatomy and Embryology (Eye), 1995-present
- Molecular Vision Editorial Board, 1997-present
- Member of Vis-A Study Section, National Eye Institute, NIH, 1998-2002
- BMS 5110C, Medical Cell and Tissue Biology, Core Director, Fall 2000
- GMS 6005, Developmental Biology, Lecture: Wnt signaling pathway in development and cancer, Spring 2001
- GMS 6690, Molecular Cell Biology Journal Club, Spring 2001
- GMS 6905, IDP Lab Rotation Mentor, Spring 2001
The long term goal of my laboratory is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the
maintenance of epithelial integrity. In order to maintain a healthy epithelium, and in turn a competent barrier,
the cells comprising the epithelium must precisely regulate their adhesivity. We have studied the delicate balance
between stable and dynamic epithelial cell-cell adhesion during the process of epithelial wound healing. While the
epithelial cell sheet remains intact during migration, its adhesions are significantly modified in such a way to
afford cell shape changes, cell sliding, and cell spreading. We have now uncovered important principles and some
of the molecular details pertaining to the control of cell-cell adhesion. Our studies on the phosphoprotein, pinin,
define it to be integral to the transition from epithelial quiescence to actively migrating epithelia. Furthermore,
alterations in cell-cell adhesion have been postulated as the basis for the conversion of epithelial cells to a
mesenchymal "de-differentiated" tumor state. Indeed the earliest manifestations of neoplastic transformations
involve changes in cell-cell interactions. Substantial data from our lab now support the idea that alterations in the
expression of pinin leads to changes in cell-cell adhesion in invasive carcinomas such as, renal cell carcinoma and
transitional cell carcinomas. The changes in pinin expression in carcinoma contribute to the progression of the epithelial
cell toward metastasis. Pinin is cytologically placed within multiprotein complexes at the site of cell-cell adhesion as
well as within the nucleus. Using pinin as a tool, our current studies are focussed on determining the lineage between
cell adhesion, nuclear architecture and gene expression.
- Shi Y, Ouyang P, Sugrue SP. Characterization of the gene encoding Pinin/DRS/memA and evidence for its potential tumor suppressor function. Oncogene 2000; 19:289-297.
- Shi Y, Tabesh M, Sugrue SP. Role of Cell Adhesion-Associated Protein, Pinin, (DRS/memA), In Corneal Epithelial Migration. IOVS, May 2000, Vol. 41, No. 6, pg. 1337-1345.
- Shi, J., Sugrue SP. Dissection of protein linkage between keratins and pinin, a protein with dual location at desmosome-intermediate filament complex and in the nucleus. J Biol Chem 2000; May 19; 275(20):14910-5.
- Ouyang P, Sugrue SP. Characterization of Pinin a novel protein associated with the desmosome-intermediate filament complex. J Cell Biol 1996, 135:1027-1042.
| Education |
| 1975 | B.Sc., Providence College (Biology), Providence, Rhode Island |
| 1979 | Ph.D., University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (Anatomy), Cincinnati, Ohio |
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| Postdoctoral Training |
| 1979-1981 | Research Associate in Anatomy and Cellular Biology, Harvard Medical School |
| 1981-1983 | Research Fellow in Oral Biology, Harvard Medical School |
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| Academic Appointments |
| 1983-1989 | Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Cellular Biology, Harvard Medical School |
| 1989-1993 | Associate Professor of Anatomy and Cellular Biology, Harvard Medical School |
| 1993-1995 | Associate Professor, Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School |
| 1995-1996 | Associate Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology University of Florida College of Medicine |
| 1996-2000 | Chairman and Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology University of Florida College of Medicine |
| 2000-present | Chairman and Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology University of Florida College of Medicine |
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