Scientists

Nalin Kumar, Ph.D. Professor Director, Molecular Biosciences Lab

Research Interests

Dr. Kumar, a cell and molecular biologist, studies the molecular structure and function of gap junctions, which are intercellular channels between adjacent cells. Dr. Kumar is currently focusing on understanding the roles of gap junctions in the eye. The lens fiber cells express two connexins: Cx46a3 and cx50a8. Knockout mice for each of these genes have been generated and shown to result in unique phenotypes that are being analyzed for phenotypic and biochemical changes. The significance of the interaction of ZO-1 with lens gap junctions is also being investigated.

The wide distribution and conservation of connexins in different cells and organisms suggest that gap junctions have a fundamental importance for cell function. Recently, exciting new insights into the function of gap junction’s channels have emerged from human genetics. These studies have implicated gap junctions in several inherited human diseases, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth, cataracts, and non-syndromic hereditary deafness. A complete understanding of the mechanism by which gap junctions affect the normal function of the cells will be important for the development of therapeutic approaches for these diseases.

Education

• Postdoc 1979-1984 Baylor College of Medicine; Houston, TX Cell and Mol. Biology

• D. Phil 1979 University of Oxford; Oxford, UK Biochemistry

• B. Sc. 1976 University of Sussex; Brighton, UK Biochemistry

UIC Appointments

02/2002-present Professor University of Illinois at Chicago, Dept. of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Integrative Molecular Biosciences Lab

Representative Publications

Kumar, N.M. and N.B. Gilula (1996) The gap junction communication channel. Cell 84:381-388.

Gong, X., E.Li, F.G.Klier, Q.Huang, Y.Wu, H.Lei, N.M.Kumar, J.Horwitz and N.B.Gilula (1997) Disruption of a 3 connexin gene leads to proteolysis and cataractogenesis in mice. Cell 91:833-843.

Unger, V.M., N.M.Kumar, N.B.Gilula and M.Yeager (1999) Three-dimensional structure of a recombinant gap junction membrane channel. Science 283:1176-80.

Nielsen P.A., A. Baruch, B.N.G. Giepmans., I. Dunia, E.L. Benedetti, and N.M.Kumar (2003 ) Lens connexins a3/Cx46 and a8/Cx50 interact with Zonula Occludens Protein-1 (ZO-1 ). Mol. Biol. Cell 14: 2470-2481.