Advisory Board

Dr. Jonathan S. Stamler

The PhysOrg article Major “missed” biochemical pathway emerges as important in virtually all cells said

A new study by Duke University researchers provides more evidence that the nitric oxide (NO) system in the life of a cell plays a key role in disease, and the findings point to ways to improve treatment of illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.
 
The nitric oxide system in cells is “a major biological signaling pathway that has been missed with regard to the way it controls proteins,” and it is linked to cancer and other diseases when the system goes awry, said Jonathan Stamler, M.D., a professor of medicine and biochemistry at Duke University Medical Center who worked on the study.
 
In the body, nitric oxide plays a role in the transport of oxygen to tissues and physiological activities such as the transmission of nerve impulses, and the beating of the heart. When things go awry with the nitric oxide system, bad things can happen in bodies, according to recent studies. For instance, there may be too little nitric oxide in atherosclerosis and there may be too much in Parkinson’s disease; there may not be enough nitric oxide in sickle cell disease and there may be too much in some types of diabetes, Stamler said.

Jonathan S. Stamler, M.D. is Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Duke University and Associate Researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He has published more than 175 original articles, reviews, and book chapters and holds over 50 issued patents to date.
 
Jonathan coauthored A novel protective effect of erythropoietin in the infarcted heart, Physiology of Nitric Oxide in Skeletal Muscle, A redox-based mechanism for the neuroprotective and neurodestructive effects of nitric oxide and related nitroso-compounds, S-nitrosohaemoglobin: a dynamic activity of blood involved in vascular control, Nitric oxide in skeletal muscle, Activation of the Cardiac Calcium Release Channel (Ryanodine Receptor) by Poly-S-Nitrosylation, Fas-Induced Caspase Denitrosylation, and Neurotoxicity associated with dual actions of homocysteine at the N-methyl-d-aspartatereceptor.
 
His patents include Proteomic interaction and genomic action determinations in the presence of associated redox state conditions, Use of an agent that restores tissue perfusion and oxygenation, Red blood cells loaded with S-nitrosothiol and uses therefor, C-nitroso compounds and use thereof, Proteomic screening for redox state dependent protein-protein interactions, No-modified hemoglobins and uses therefor, Inhibiting GS-FDH to modulate NO bioactivity, Therapies using hemoproteins, Polymers for delivering nitric oxide in vivo, Reactive oxygen generating enzyme inhibitor with nitric oxide bioactivity and uses thereof, and Treating pulmonary disorders with gaseous agent causing repletion of GSNO.
 
Jonathan earned his B.A. at Brandeis University, Waltham, MA in 1981 and his M.D. at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY in 1985. He received extensive training in both pulmonology and cardiology as an intern, resident, and fellow at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
 
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