| 
DDS, 1983, Univ. of Mexico (Mexico City, Mexico)
Ph.D., 2001, Autonomous University of the State of Mexico
|
Mireya González-Begné, DDS, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor of Dentistry in the Center for
Oral Biology
Contact Information:
University of Rochester
School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Ave, Box 611
Rochester, New York 14642
Medical Center (G-9634)
Phone: (585) 273-1424; Lab: (585) 275-8705
Fax: (585) 276-0190
Email:
Mireya_Gonzalez@urmc.rochester.edu
Research: Utilization of proteomics for
determining the molecular identity of proteins involved in
the salivation process. |
| Saliva is an essential fluid for maintaining
not only oral homeostasis, but also for carrying out vital
functions such as swallowing, chewing and lubrication. Some
systemic diseases such as Sjögren syndrome, and traumatic
or iatrogenic events like head and neck radiotherapy, can
alter the salivary fluid rate, as well as the salivary composition.
Salivary gland secretion involves the dynamic interaction
of the major and minor salivary glands and many other glandular
structures which in a coordinated way excrete saliva into
the oral cavity. The secretory process is a highly
regulated mechanism in which Cl - channels,
K + channels, Cl -
/HCO 3 -
exchangers, aquaporins, Na +
/H + exchangers, carbonic anhydrases,
Na + /K +
/2Cl - co-transporter and the
Na + /K +
ATPase work in unison to generate saliva. The activation of
these proteins on the basolateral and apical membranes of
the acinar cells, determines the rate and direction of salt
and water secretion, thus producing the primary saliva (isotonic)
which is excreted into the lumen. Conversely, activation of
the ion transport proteins expressed in ductal cells promotes
the excretion of hypotonic saliva, due to the reabsorption
of NaCl and the excretion of K +
/HCO 3 -
.
Within the last five years Proteomics has changed the understanding
of molecular biology. Analytical methods and new techniques
for proteomics have become available for characterizing thousands
of proteins, gathering important information about their physicochemical
properties, and studying their role in biological processes
and human disease.
The main focus of my current research is to determine the
molecular identity of some proteins involved in salivary secretion
by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectroscopy in order to gather further
understanding about their physiological role in health and
disease processes. |
