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Sven-Eric Jordt
Assistant Professor
Joined Yale in 2005
Education:
| 1993 | Diploma in Biochemistry, Free University Berlin |
| 1997 | Ph.D., Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg & Free University Berlin |
| 1998-2005 | Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Francisco |
Awards:
1998-2001 Fellowship of the German Academy of Natural Scientists, Leopoldina
2006 Outstanding New Environmental Scientist Award (ONES) from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
2007 Early Excellence Award from the Sandler Foundation for Asthma Research
2007 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)
Research Interests:
In my laboratory we are interested in how humans and animals sense touch and pain. These fundamental sensations originate in peripheral sensory neurons which contain signaling pathways that translate environmental stimuli into neural activity. Our aims are to identify the molecular components of these pathways and to understand how sensory neurons become sensitized during injury and chronic painful conditions such as inflammation.
In our current studies we use pharmacological, molecular genetic and physiological approaches as well as fluorescent imaging techniques to investigate the properties of ion channel proteins that serve as sensors for temperature and noxious stimuli in sensory neurons. These proteins belong to the gene family of TRP (transient receptor potential) ion channels, some of which are the targets of natural plant products that activate the sensation of heat and pain (capsaicin, mustard oil) or cold (menthol). We are using these compounds as chemical probes to study how TRP channels are activated, how they interact with endogenous ligands and how temperature sensing occurs.
Another goal in our lab is to understand how signaling pathways are used to increase TRP channel activity in disease. TRP channels are regulated by other receptor systems through membrane phospholipid turnover, kinase pathways and endogenous ligands. Increased channel activity results in neural sensitization that causes hypersensitivity to sensory input and contributes to painful inflammation by a mechanism known as neurogenic inflammation. This mechanism is important for conditions such as arthritis, vasculitis, psoriasis, intra- and postoperative pain, trauma, invading cancer and visceral and musculoskeletal disorders. With our studies we hope to gain new mechanistic insights into neurogenic inflammation, identify potential pharmacological targets and reveal basic molecular and cellular mechanisms of sensory transduction.
Selected References:
Bautista, D.M., Siemens, J., Glazer, J.M., Tsuruda, P.R., Basebaum, A.I., Stucky, C.L. *, Jordt, S.E. *, Julius, D. *, The Menthol Receptor TRPM8 is the Principal Detector of Environmental Cold. Nature, 448: 204-208 (2007)
Bautista, D.M. *, Jordt, S.E. *, Nikai, T., Tsuruda, P.R., Read A.J., Poblete, J., Yamoah, A.N., Basebaum, A.I., and Julius, D., TRPA1 Mediates the Inflammatory Actions of Environmental Irritants and Proalgesic Agents. Cell, 124: 1269-1282 (2006)
Bautista, D. M., Movahed, P., Hinman, A., Axelsson, H. E., Sterner, O. , Hogestatt, E. D., Julius, D., Jordt, S.E. *, Zygmunt, P. M.*, Pungent Products From Garlic Activate The Sensory Ion Channel TRPA1. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 102(34): 12248-12252 (2005)
Jordt, S.E., Bautista, D. M., Chuang, H. H., McKemy, D. D., Zygmunt, P. M., Hogestatt, E. D., Meng, I. D. and Julius, D., Mustard Oils And Cannabinoids Excite Sensory Nerve Fibers Via The TRP Channel ANKTM1. Nature 427: 260-265 (2004)
Jordt, S.E., McKemy, D. D. and Julius, D., Lessons From Peppers And Peppermint: The Molecular Logic Of Thermosensation. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 13: 487-492 (2003)
Jordt, S.E. and Julius, D., Molecular Basis For Species-Specific Sensitivity To "Hot" Chili Peppers. Cell, 108: 421-430 (2002)
(* indicates equal contributions)
Reference Search:
Search for references on PubMed
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Contact Information
Sven-Eric Jordt
Department of Pharmacology
Yale University School of Medicine
333 Cedar Street
PO Box 208066
New Haven, CT 06520-8066
Courier Address:
333 Cedar Street, SHM B326A
New Haven, CT 06520
Phone:
(203)785-2159
Email:
Website:
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