Dominic M. Desiderio, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Neurology
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
847 Monroe Avenue
Memphis, TN 38163
Tel: (901) 448-5488
Fax: (901) 448-7842
Lab: 117 Johnson Building
Email: Dominic M. Desiderio
Grants Quick Links
Education
- Ph.D. Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry
Research Interests
The hypothesis for this study is that differentially expressed nitroproteins (DENPÕs) exist between human pituitary controls and adenomas. We base our hypothesis on our recent discovery of sixteen 3-nitrotyrosine-containing proteins (3NT proteins; nitroproteins) and several nitroprotein:protein complexes in human pituitaries. Biomarker DENPÕs provide a window into oxidative stress, reactive nitrogen species (RNS), reactive oxygen species (ROS), free radicals, and tumorigenesis. We focus on brain tumors, and specifically on pituitary adenomas. The molecular mechanisms that participate in the formation of non-secreting macroadenomas are largely unknown; more is known about hormone-secreting microadenomas.
Although reversible and non-reversible protein modifications occur, we focus on a chemically stable end-product biomarker, 3-nitro tyrosine (3NT). We analyze nitroproteins in human pituitary tissues (post-mortem controls; post-surgical adenomas) to identify DENPÕs. Those biomarker DENPÕs will clarify molecular events that occur in brain tumors and pituitary adenomas. Those results are readily translatable to other cancer studies.
We have extensive preliminary data on human pituitaries from collaborations with our neurosurgeon colleagues J. T. Robertson, M.D. (University of Tennessee) and Nelson M. Oyesiku, M.D. (Emory University). We have published the quantitation of neuropeptides (controls; adenomas), comparative proteomics to discover differentially expressed proteins (DEPÕs), qualitative phosphoproteomics to discover phosphoproteins, and qualitative nitroproteomics to discover nitroproteins. We have compared our DEPÕs with differential genes.
Representative Publications
- Zhan X, Wang X, Desiderio DM. Pituitary adenoma nitroproteomics: current status and perspectives. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2013;2013:580710. doi: 10.1155/2013/580710. Epub 2013 Mar 7. PubMed PMID: 23533694; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3606787.
- Gardner LA, Desiderio DM, Groover CJ, Hartzes A, Yates CR, Zucker-Levin AR, Bloom L, Levin MC. LC-MS/MS identification of the one-carbon cycle metabolites in human plasma. Electrophoresis. 2013 Feb 18. doi: 10.1002/elps.201200536. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 23417555.
- Wu J, Kakoola DN, Lenchik NI, Desiderio DM, Marshall DR, Gerling IC. Molecular phenotyping of immune cells from young NOD mice reveals abnormal metabolic pathways in the early induction phase of autoimmune diabetes. PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e46941. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046941. Epub 2012 Oct 11. PubMed PMID: 23071669; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3469658.
- Giorgianni F, Mileo V, Desiderio DM, Catinella S, Beranova-Giorgianni S. Characterization of the phosphoproteome in human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Int J Proteomics. 2012;2012:460261. Epub 2012 Sep 11. PubMed PMID: 22997577; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3446654.
- Zhan X, Desiderio DM. Nitroproteins Identified in Human Ex-smoker Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid. Aging Dis. 2011 Apr;2(2):100-15. Epub 2010 Nov 8. PubMed PMID: 22396869; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3295046.
- Iannaccone A, Neeli I, Krishnamurthy P, Lenchik NI, Wan H, Gerling IC, Desiderio DM, Radic MZ. Autoimmune biomarkers in age-related macular degeneration: a possible role player in disease development and progression. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2012;723:11-6. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-0631-0_2. Review. PubMed PMID: 22183309.
