2017

Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty


Peter Douglas, PhD

Assistant Professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Stress-mediated actin phosphorylation in endocytosis and age regulation

As humans age, our tissues and organs gradually deteriorate. Aging compromises the integrity of a tissue’s surrounding barrier, which leads to increased leakiness and dysfunction of the respective organs. This theory has been termed the “barrier dysfunction of aging.”

Using the intestine of the nematode C. elegans, Dr. Douglas and his team have uncovered a novel molecular mechanism involving stress-mediated actin phosphorylation, or addition of phosphate. Actin—a protein in muscle cells that allows the cells to move and function—plays a significant role in cellular transport, stress response, and human disease.

Dr. Douglas hypothesizes that actin phosphorylation drives tissue “leakiness,” and therefore accelerates the aging process. He and his team are working to better understand how it does so and what effect it has on the aging body. This knowledge would lead to a better understanding of tissue homeostasis in human physiology.

More 2017 Recipients of this Grant

Luis Batista, PhD

The impact of progressive telomere shortening on mitochondria function and energy metabolism of human stem cells

Sergei Doulatov, PhD

The role of autophagy in human hematopoietic stem cell aging

Michael Garratt, PhD

Sensory perception of the social environment: regulation of mouse development, metabolism and aging

Vyacheslav Labunskyy, PhD

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress resistance and longevity

Darcie Moore, PhD

The molecular mechanisms underlying asymmetric segregation of aging factors in mammalian neural stem cells

Vittorio Sebastiano, PhD

Transient reprogramming for efficient cell-autonomous reversal of age-associated phenotypes

Archana Unnikrishnan, PhD

Role of DNA methylation in Dietary Restriction mediated insulin sensitivity

Rui Xiao, PhD

Cold-Shock Proteins (CSPs) in stress response and lifespan modulation

Amir Zarrinpar, MD, PhD

The relationship of gut luminal dynamics and aging-related circadian dysfunction and dysmetabolism