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Jonathan H. Jaggar, PhD

Maury Bronstein Professor
Department of Physiology

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
894 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: 901.448.1208
Office: 402 Nash Research Building
Email: Jonathan H. Jaggar

Education

  • PhD Institution: University of Sheffield, United Kingdom

Research Interests

Arterial diameter, a primary determinant of systemic blood pressure, is regulated by the contractile state of smooth muscle cells in the arterial wall. One critical regulator of smooth muscle contractility is the intracellular calcium ion concentration. Smooth muscle cells control intracellular calcium concentration by regulating cellular influx, release, sequestration and extrusion. Since membrane potential regulates calcium entry in smooth muscle cells, ion channels that modulate membrane potential also change cellular contractility. Recent studies have discovered that local and global elevations in cytosolic calcium occur in smooth muscle cells. These different calcium signaling events not only regulate contractility, but may also regulate a number of other physiological functions. We are currently investigating sarcolemma ion channels that control membrane potential and calcium entry in arterial smooth muscle cells and the properties, physiological targets, and regulation of arterial diameter by different intracellullar calcium signals. Research in the laboratory involves a multi-faceted approach, studying events at molecular, cellular and intact artery levels. Techniques include patch clamp electrophysiology, rapid confocal calcium imaging, conventional calcium imaging, diameter measurement of pressurized arteries, and molecular biology.

Representative Publications

  • Hasan R, Leo MD, Muralidharan P, Mata-Daboin A, Yin W, Bulley S, Fernandez-Peña C, MacKay CE, Jaggar JH. SUMO1 modification of PKD2 channels regulates arterial contractility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Dec 10. pii: 201917264. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1917264116. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31822608.
  • Jaggar JH, Gomez MF. The 2019 FASEB Science Research Conference on Smooth Muscle, July 14-19, 2019, Palm Beach Florida, USA. FASEB J. 2019 Dec;33(12):13068-13070. doi: 10.1096/fj.201902633. PubMed PMID: 31795032.
  • Zawieja SD, Castorena JA, Gui P, Li M, Bulley SA, Jaggar JH, Rock JR, Davis MJ. Ano1 mediates pressure-sensitive contraction frequency changes in mouse lymphatic collecting vessels. J Gen Physiol. 2019 Apr 1;151(4):532-554. doi: 10.1085/jgp.201812294. Epub 2019 Mar 12. PubMed PMID: 30862712; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6445586.
  • Bulley S, Fernández-Peña C, Hasan R, Leo MD, Muralidharan P, Mackay CE, Evanson KW, Moreira-Junior L, Mata-Daboin A, Burris SK, Wang Q, Kuruvilla KP, Jaggar JH. Arterial smooth muscle cell PKD2 (TRPP1) channels regulate systemic blood pressure. Elife. 2018 Dec 4;7. pii: e42628. doi: 10.7554/eLife.42628. PubMed PMID: 30511640; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6281320.
  • Leo MD, Zhai X, Yin W, Jaggar JH. Impaired Trafficking of β1 Subunits Inhibits BK Channels in Cerebral Arteries of Hypertensive Rats. Hypertension. 2018 Sep;72(3):765-775. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.118.11147. PubMed PMID: 30012867; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6202242.
  • Dopico AM, Bukiya AN, Jaggar JH. Calcium- and voltage-gated BK channels in vascular smooth muscle. Pflugers Arch. 2018 Sep;470(9):1271-1289. doi: 10.1007/s00424-018-2151-y. Epub 2018 May 11. Review. PubMed PMID: 29748711; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6417838.

View more references (pubmed link)

May 26, 2022