Dennis R Voelker
PhD
- Department of Medicine
- Professor
- Phone
- 303-398-1300
- Fax
- 303-398-1806
- Email
- voelkerd@njhealth.org
- Gender
- Male
Affiliation with University of Colorado Denver
Joint appointments in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Medicine
Professional Memberships/Societies
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)
Publications by This Author
Link to Faculty Publications
Link to PubMed for more papers
Research Interests
Phospholipid transport processes in eukaryotic cells.Pulmonary surfactant proteins – structure and function.
My laboratory has two areas of major interest. The first is elucidation of the mechanisms of intracellular phospholipid transport in eukaryotic cells. This research problem is a fundamental question of cell biology and biochemistry about which we know very little. Resolution of this problem will provide new insights into how cells make their membranes and how this process is related to all cell growth and development. In addition, these research efforts are also enabling us to understand how intracellular pathogens such as certain types of bacteria and parasites interact with their host cells to make membranes necessary for their growth. Our efforts also include studies of the synthesis, transport and secretion of specific phospholipids within the lung that are essential for normal breathing.
The second area of research in my laboratory focuses upon the pulmonary surfactant proteins, SP-A and SP-D. These proteins are present in the airways and alveoli of the lungs and recognize viruses, bacteria and fungi. Our research examines how the proteins recognize these pathogens and how this can be altered by structural changes to the proteins. The SP-A and SP-D also regulate the inflammatory response of the lung in response to pathogens and we are investigating how this affects diseases such as tuberculosis and asthma.
Education & Training
Education
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- PhD, 1978
- Indiana University
- Undergraduate, 1972
Fellowships
- Harvard Medical School
- Postdoctoral, 1981
Awards & Recognition
2005: ASBMB Annual Meeting, Chair
2004-Present: ASBMB Meetings CMTE Chair
2003: ASBMB Thematic Meeting, Chair
1995: Gordon Research Conference, Chair
NIH MERIT AWARD 03-13
Editorial Boards:
2004-Present: Progress in Lipid Research, Executive Editor
Biochemistry 1993-96, Journal of Biological Chemistry 1992-97, 1998-03
Recent or Important Publications
Voelker DR. Bridging gaps in phospholipids transport. Trends Biochem Sci 30:398-404, 2005.
Choi JY, Wu, WI and Voelker DR. Phosphatidylserine decarboxylases as biochemical and genetic tools for studying phospholipid traffic. Analytical Bioch 347(2):165-75, 2005.
Gupta N, Zahn MM, Coppens I, Joiner KA, Voelker DR. Selective disruption of phosphatidylcholine metabolism of the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii arrests its growth. J Biol Chem 280:16345-53, 2005.
Piboonpocanum S, Chiba H, Mitsuzawa H, Martin W, Murphy RC, Harbeck RJ, Voelker DR. Related Articles, Links Abstract Surfactant protein A binds Mycoplalsma pneumoniae with high affinity and attenuates its growth by recognition of disaturated phosphatidylglycerols. J Biol Chem 280:9-17, 2005.
Allen JM, Laederach A, Reilly PJ, Mason RJ, Voelker DR. Arg343 in human surfactant protein D governs discrimination between glucose and N-acetylglucosamine ligands. Glycobiology 14:693-700, 2004.
