Research Bio
We originally discovered and cloned phospholipid scramblase as a membrane protein with capacity to promote rapid transbilayer movement of phospholipids in response to Ca2+ . This protein turned out to be the first of four that together form the phospholipid scramblase (PLSCR) gene family. Our research during the last few years has revealed that PLSCRs may have functions beyond their putative role as membrane phospholipid scramblases. Taking advantage of gene knockout technology, we discovered that mice with a targeted deletion of PLSCR1 display perinatal granulocytopenia due to defective response to hematologic precursors to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and stem cell factor.
Interestingly, PLSCR3-/- mice have a phenotype reminiscent of metabolic syndrome in man: they display aberrant accumulation of abdominal fat, accompanied by the development of insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia. These observations and our in vitro data suggest that PLSCRs are involved in signal transduction through growth factor receptors and may be required for normal cell maturation. Furthermore, we have shown that aberrant expression of PLSCR1 may play a role in tumor formation and increased susceptibility to viral infection. Current efforts are focused on unraveling the molecular mechanisms by which PLSCRs mediate these diverse functions.
| Adjunct Professor Shanghai Second Medical University Shanghai, China |
2004 |
| Chairman, N.I.H. Hematology 1 Study Section |
1999 - 2001 |
| N.I.H. (NHLBI) MERIT Award |
1995 |
| Walter H. Schroeder Chair in Research,
The Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin |
1993 - 1999 |
| Chairman, Veterans Administration Merit Review Board - Hematology |
1991 - 1992 |
| President, American Heart Association,
Oklahoma Affiliate |
1990 - 1991 |
| Man-of-the-Year Award, American Heart Association, Oklahoma Affiliate Chapter |
1989 |
| American Society for Clinical Investigation |
1988 |
| S. Graham Smith Endowment Distinguished Scientist, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, |
1988 - 1992 |
| N.I.H. Research Career Development Award
(Awarded but not activated in lieu of AHA Estabished Investigatorship) |
1985 |
| Established Investigator of American Heart Association #85-128 |
1985 - 1990 |
| Clinician-Scientist Award, American Heart Association (Awarded but not activated in lieu of Hartford Fellowship) |
1982 |
| John A. and George L. Hartford Fellowship in Biomedical Research |
1982 - 1985 |
| Southern Medical Association Research Award |
1981 |
| Alpha Omega Alpha, Duke University School of Medicine |
1976 |
| B.A., Summa Cum Laude, Amherst College |
1974 |
| Medical Scientist Traineeship (PHS), GM-07171 |
1974 - 1980 |
| Sigma Xi, Amherst College |
1972 |
| Phi Beta Kappa, Amherst College |
1972 |
| Kirov A, Al-Hashimi H, Solomon P, Mazur C, Thorpe PE, Sims PJ, Tarantini F, Kumar TK, Prudovsky I. "Phosphatidylserine externalization and membrane blebbing are involved in the nonclassical export of FGF1." Journal of cellular biochemistry. 2012; 113(3):956-66. |
| Lott K, Bhardwaj A, Sims PJ, Cingolani G. "A minimal nuclear localization signal (NLS) in human phospholipid scramblase 4 that binds only the minor NLS-binding site of importin alpha1." The Journal of biological chemistry. 2011; 286(32):28160-9. Epub 2011 Jun 20. |
| Chen CW, Sowden M, Zhao Q, Wiedmer T, Sims PJ. "Nuclear phospholipid scramblase 1 prolongs the mitotic expansion of granulocyte precursors during G-CSF-induced granulopoiesis." Journal of leukocyte biology. 2011; 90(2):221-33. Epub 2011 Mar 29. |
| Suzuki J, Umeda M, Sims PJ, Nagata S. "Calcium-dependent phospholipid scrambling by TMEM16F." Nature. 2010; 468(7325):834-8. Epub 2010 Nov 24. |
| Bateman A, Finn RD, Sims PJ, Wiedmer T, Biegert A, Söding J. "Phospholipid scramblases and Tubby-like proteins belong to a new superfamily of membrane tethered transcription factors." Bioinformatics (Oxford, England). 2009; 25(2):159-62. Epub 2008 Nov 13. |
