Jeffrey R. Martens Ph.D.
| A220B MSRB III |
| Ann Arbor, MI 48109 |
Olfactory dysfunction in the general population is frequent, affecting at least 2.5 million people in the U.S. alone. In at least 20% of the cases the etiology of the chemosensory disturbance cannot be identified. Recently, we were one of the first to demonstrate olfactory dysfunction as a clinical manifestation of an emerging class of human genetic disorders, termed ciliopathies, which involve defects in ciliary assembly and/or protein transport. Given the plasticity of the olfactory system and its regenerative properties, olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) undergo a continual process of ciliogenesis and protein transport that is critical for olfactory function. Remarkably, the mechanisms and molecular machinery necessary for ciliary transport in OSNs are virtually unexplored. Therefore, current projects in the laboratory seek to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the transport of odorant signaling proteins into mammalian olfactory cilia and their alterations in cilia-related disorders.
Brainard AM, Miller AJ, Martens JR, England SK: Localization of Maxi-K channels to Caveolae in Human Myometrium: A role for an Actin-Channel-Caveolin Complex in the Regulation of Myometrial Smooth Muscle K+ Current. J. Biol. Chem. 2004; submited
O’Connell K, Martens JR, Tamkun MM: Localization of Ion channels to Lipid Raft Domains within the Cardiovascular System. Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2004 Feb;14(2):37-42
Martens JR, O’Connell K, Tamkun MM: Targeting of Ion Channels to Membrane Microdomains: Localization of Kv Channels to Lipid Rafts. Trends Pharm. Sci. 2004; 25(1):16-21
Brady JD, Rich TC, Le X, Stafford K, Fowler CJ, Lynch L, Karpen JW, Brown RL, Martens JR: Functional Role of Lipid Raft Microdomains in Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channel Activation. Mol. Pharm. 2004; 65(3):503-511
Fergus DJ, Martens JR, England SK: Kv Channel Subunits that Contribute to Voltage-gated K+ Current in Renal Vascular Smooth Muscle. Pflugers Archives. 2003; 445(6):697-704
Martens JR, Sakamoto N, Sullivan SA, Grobaski TD, Tamkun MM: Isoform Specific Localization of Voltage-gated K+ Channels to Distinct Lipid Raft Populations: Targeting of Kv1.5 to Caveolae. J. Biol. Chem. 2001;276:8409-8414
Coppock EA, Martens JR, Tamkun MM: Molecular Basis of Hypoxia-induced Pulmonary Vasoconstriction - Role of Voltage-gated K+ Channels. Am. J. Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2001;281(1):L1-12
Martens JR, Kwak YG, Tamkun MM: Modulation of Kv Channel a/b Subunit Interactions. Trends Cardiovascular Med. 1999; 9(8):253-258
Hulme JT, Martens JR, Navarro R, and Tamkun MM: Voltage-gated K+ channels in the myocardium. In Potassium Channels in Cardiovascular Biology (Archer, S.L. and Rusch, N.J., eds.) Plenum Publishing, New York 2001;pp 337-362
Martens JR, Navarro-Polanco R, Coppock EA, Nishiyama A, Parshley L, Grobaski TD, Tamkun MM: Differential Targeting of Shaker-like Potassium Channels to Lipid Rafts. J. Biol. Chem. 2000; 275:7443-7446