Jorge E. Contreras, Ph.D.
185 S. Orange Avenue.
Newark, NJ 07101
(973) 972-3666
EDUCATION
1999-2003Ph.D, Biological Sciences, Major in Physiology. School of Biological Sciences, Catholic University of Chile.
1993-1997BSc, Biology Sciences. School of Biological Sciences, Catholic University of Chile.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2010-to dateAssistant Professor, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, UMDNJ-NJMS
2010-to dateSpecial Volunteer, Molecular Neurophysiology Unit, NINDS, NIH.
2005-2010Research Fellow, Molecular Neurophysiology Unit, NINDS, NIH,
Supervisor: Dr. Miguel Holmgren.
2004-2005Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Neurophysiology Unit, NINDS, NIH, Supervisor: Dr. Miguel Holmgren.
2001-2004Research Scholar Albert Einstein College of Medicine,
Supervisor: Dr. Michael V. L. Bennett.
AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND HONORS
2012-2015Counselor, Society of General Physiologists
2012Visiting Scientist Fellowship for research at the Mount Desert
Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL), ME.
2009-2011Counselor, Society of General Physiologists.
2009Grass Fellowship for Neurophysiology. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA.
2008Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE), National Institutes of Health, USA.
2007PhD Dissertation Award Recognition, The Chilean Academy of Sciences.
2005-2008Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for individual postdoctoral Fellows.
2002- 2003 Kirby foundation (USA). Full tuition.
DIPUC (Chile ) Graduate-fellowship.
2001Travel Award, CONICYT (Chile). Gap junctions Conference, Hawaii, USA
RESEARCH SUPPORT
Ongoing Research Support
1.- NIH/GM7/1/2011 - 6/30/20169 calendar months
R01 (Contreras, PI)
Title: “Gating and regulation of connexin hemichannels”
The objective of this project is to identify the molecular basis of external Ca2+regulation of connexin hemichannels and the mechanistic basis of hemichannel gain of function, at normal Ca2+concentrations, in hCx26 mutations that cause diseases
Completed Research Support
1.- Ruth Kirschstein Postdoctoral NRSA (individual) 10/04/05-10/04/08
NIH/NINDS. (Contreras, Fellow)
Title: “Gating mechanism of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels.”
The main goal of this study is to identify the location of the gate in cyclic nucleotide gated channels.
2.- Foundation of UMDNJ2/1/2011 – 1/31/20121.2 calendar months
Seed Grant (Contreras, PI)$25,000/direct costs
Title: “Regulation of the connexin channel that produces deafness and skin disorders”
The goal of this project is to initiate studies of the mechanistic basis of hemichannel gain of function induced by mutations in human connexin26 (hCx26) that cause disease.
Pending Research Support
1.- NIH/GM1/10/2013 - 6/30/20183 calendar months
Multi-PI R01 (Harris, Contreras) Percentile: 6.0
Title: : “Regulation of Cx26 and Cx32 Channels by Cytosolic Interdomain Interactions”
The goal of this study is to identify specific cytoplasmic interacting segments and sites of the proteins that modulate/control gating in Cx26 and Cx32 channels, and how mutations in these regions that cause human disease alter channel function.
PUBLICATIONS
Full Papers
Lopez W, Gonzalez J, Liu Y, Harris AL, Contreras JE. Human pathogenic Connexin26 mutations (D50N/Y) reveal insights on the mechanisms of Ca2+ regulation of hemichannels.Submitted to J.Gen. Physiol.
Miranda P*, Contreras JE*, Wesch D, Sigworth FJ, Holmgren M, Giraldez T (2011). Calcium induces structural rearrangements of the gating ring of the human BK channel. Submitted. (*Equal contribution)
Contreras JE, Chen J, Lau AY, Roux B, Holmgren M (2010). Voltage profile along the permeation pathway of an open channel. Biophysical Journal. 99: 2863-69
Contreras JE, Srikumar D, and Holmgren M (2008). Gating at the selectivity filter of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 105: 3310-14
Contreras JE, and Holmgren M (2006). Access of quaternary ammonium blockers to the internal pore of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels: Implications for the location of the gate. J. Gen. Physiol. 127: 481-494
Contreras JE, Sánchez HA, Veliz L, Bukauskas FF, Bennett MVL, and Sáez JC (2004) Involvementof connexin formed channels in ischemia-induced cell death in nervous tissue. Brain Res. Rev. 47: 290-303
Contreras JE, Sáez JC, Bukauskas FF and Bennett MVL (2003) Gating and regulation of connexin 43 (Cx43) hemichannels. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 100: 11388-93
Contreras JE, Bukauskas FF, Sáez JC, and M.V. Bennett (2003). Functioning of Cx43 hemichannels demonstrated by single channel properties. Cell Communication and Adhesion. 10:245-9
Bennett MVL, Contreras JE, Bukauskas FF, Sáez JC (2003) New role for astrocytes: Gap junction hemichannels have something to communicate. Trends in Neurosci. 26: 610-7
Sáez JC, Contreras JE, Bukauskas FF, and M.V. Bennett (2003) Gap junction hemichannels in astrocytes of the CNS. Acta Physiol. Scand. 179: 9-22
Contreras JE, Sánchez H,Eugenín EA, Speidel D, Theis M, Willecke K, Bukauskas FF, Bennett MVL and Saez JC (2002). Metabolic inhibition induces opening of unapposed connexin43 gap junction hemichannels and reduces gap junctional communication in cortical rat astrocytes in culture. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 99: 495-500
De Maio A, Vega VL,Contreras JE(2002). Gap junctions, homeostasis, and injury. J Cell Physiol.191: 269-282
Brañes MC,Contreras JE, and Sáez J (2002). Human polymorphonuclear cells express connexins and form homologous gap junctions. Med. Sci. Monit. 8(8): BR313-323
Sáez JC, Araya R, Brañes MC, Contreras JE, Eugenín EA, Martínez AD and Palisson F. Gap junctions in the native and memory immune system: Connexins regulation and possible functional roles (2000). Current Topics in Membranes. Ed. Peracchia C. Pp 555-579.
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