Collagen IV Assembly and Trafficking
Funded by:
National Institutes of Health/National Institute of
Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Award:
$442,698.00
Duration:
September 5, 2011—August 31, 2013
Units:
College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Sciences/
Department of Biological Sciences
Project Contact:
Dr. Michael T. Ivy
[email protected]
(615) 963-7796
Collaborators:
Vanderbilt University, Center for Matrix Biology
Dr. Billy Hudson
[email protected]
(615) 322-7298
INVESTIGATOR
SUMMARY
This project is a dynamic collaboration between Tennessee State University, an
Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and Vanderbilt University
through the Center of Matrix Biology. The venture is to strengthen the research
environment for Tennessee State University and to enrich research experiences
for underrepresented students, both college level and high school level, attending
Tennessee State University, Hunters Lane Comprehensive High School
(Nashville, Tenn.) and the Nashville Big Picture High School (Nashville, Tenn.).
Michael T. Ivy, Ph.D.
Dr. Michael T. Ivy is a full professor in the
Department of Biological Sciences of the College of
Agriculture, Human, and Natural Sciences.
Principal Investigator,
Collagen IV Assembly and Trafficking
Read more...
The kidney structural filtering unit is called the glomerulus. Disorders of the
glomerulus constitute over 60% of all cases of severe kidney disease, a major
health problem worldwide. The research focuses on the examination of
properties involved with the molecular assembly and arrangement of collagen IV
networks required in the glomerular architecture of the kidney. The basis of
network stability which can influence the combination of NC1 monomers
associated with triple helical protomer formation of self-assembling collagen IV
will be determined. Throughout the duration of the project, effort will be
rendered to explore the cellular location of the domain assemblage for collagen
IV that may help identify the molecular machinery needed to direct
tetramerization as a consequence of carbohydrates coupled to collagen
molecules. Discovery of the possible pathways in which carbohydrate units
impact structural network features will delineate in more detail the significance
of saccharides geometry and stability requirements which are fundamental to
self-assembly of collagen IV molecules. Research efforts will necessitate the
use of cell culture techniques and media, SDS-PAGE procedures, subcellular
fractionation, ultracentrifugation analysis, and chemicals that permit the
differentiation between carbohydrate molecules.
Currently, this project has six students (two graduates, two undergraduates, and
two high school students) participating in research as Tennessee State
University/Vanderbilt University Aspirnaut summer research interns. Through
the benefits of training and learning in the scientific laboratories, these interns
are gaining exposure to biomedical research related to kidney problems and
diabetes.
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Tennessee State University ● Research and Sponsored Programs ● 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. ● Nashville, TN 37209-1561 ● Telephone: (615) 963-7631 ● FAX: (615) 963-5068 ● Email: [email protected] ● Website: www.tnstate.edu/research
Michael T. Ivy, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Sciences
Department of Biological Sciences
Tennessee State University
Dr. Michael T. Ivy is a full professor in the Department of Biological Sciences of the College of
Agricultural, Human, and Natural Sciences. He received his B.A. degree in Biological Sciences from
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1978 and his Ph.D. degree in Physiology from the University
of Illinois-Chicago in 1986. Dr. Ivy received extensive expertise in pharmacology research through
completion of two post doctoral appointments: Texas Tech University, Lubbock and Loyola University
Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Prior to joining Tennessee State University, Dr. Ivy served as
assistant professor in the Indiana University Center for Medical Education at Indiana State University.
His areas of competency are in the fields of neurochemistry, neuroscience, and neurophysiology.
During his academic and research career, Dr. Ivy has secured approximately $1.4 million dollars in
external funding for neuroscience related research from the National Institutes of Health. As an
accomplished researcher, Dr. Ivy has authored and co-authored 16 peer-reviewed publications. Further,
Dr. Ivy has been involved in training and mentoring underrepresented minority (URM) students in both
the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) and Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority
Participation (TLSAMP) programs that focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) education, which correlates directly with the Aspirnaut Initiative.
Recent Publications:
Ruggiero A.M., Wright, J., Ferguson, S.M., Lewis, M., Emerson, K.S., Iwamoto, H., Ivy, M.T.,
Holmstrand, E.C., Ennis, E.A., Weaver, C.D., Blakely, R.D.; 2012; Nonoisotopic assay for the
presynaptic choline transporter reveals capacity for allosteric modulation of choline uptake; ACS Chem
Neurosci. 3(10):767-81.
Ivy, M.T., Newkirk, R.F. and Townsel, J.G.; 2010; A novel choline cotransporter sequestration
compartment in cholinergic neurons revealed by selective endosomal ablation; J. Neurochem. 112
(5):1295-1304.
Cao, Z., Wang, Y., McAdory, B.S., Kemp, M.D., Ivy, M.T., Newkirk, R.F. and Townsel, J.G.; 2006;
Identification and characterization of syntaxin 1 antisense variants in Limulus polyphemus; Cell. Mol.
Neurobiol. 26(1):53-66.