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Faculty Detail    
Name PETER R SMITH
  
Campus Address VH 617 Zip 0019
Phone  (205) 934-4170
E-mail  prsmith@uab.edu
Other websites
     


Faculty Appointment(s)
Appointment Type Department Division Rank
Primary  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology Professor
Secondary  Dept of Medical Education  Dept of Medical Education Associate Professor
Center  Ctr for Clinical & Translational Sci  Ctr for Clinical & Translational Sci Professor
Center  GL Ctr for Craniofacial, Oral, & Dental Disorders  GL Ctr for Craniofacial, Oral, & Dental Disorders Professor

Graduate Biomedical Sciences Affiliations
Cell, Molecular, & Developmental Biology 
Integrative Biomedical Sciences 
Medical Scientist Training Program 
Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine 

Biographical Sketch 
Dr. Peter R. Smith, Associate Professor, received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the University of Alberta; his Ph.D. was awarded from Clemson University. Dr. Smith performed Postdoctoral Training in Cell Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina and in Physiology and Biophysics at UAB. Dr. Smith became a UAB faculty member in 1998.



Research/Clinical Interest
Title
The role of the membrane cytoskeleton in regulating the cell surface expression of epithelial transport proteins.
Description
Epithelial cells are polarized with their surfaces divided into two structurally and biochemical distinct membrane domains: the apical that faces the luminal compartment and the basolateral that rests on the basement membrane and is in contact with the interstitial compartment. The targeting and retention of epithelial transport proteins within specific domains of the cell surface is vital for the function of epithelia in solute and ion transport. The central goal of our research is to understand the role of the membrane cytoskeleton in establishing and regulating the cell surface expression of epithelial transport proteins. We are presently focusing on elucidating the molecular interactions between the membrane cytoskeleton and the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), an ion channel that plays a key role in the regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance and blood pressure. In addition, we have recently begun to examine the interactions between the membrane cytoskeleton and H/K-ATPase isoforms expressed in renal epithelial cells.

Selected Publications 
Publication PUBMEDID
Su X, Li Q, Shrestha K, Cormet-Boyaka E, Chen L, Smith PR, Sorscher EJ, Benos DJ, Matalon S, Ji HL.Interregulation of proton-gated Na(+) channel 3 and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. J Biol Chem. 2006 Dec 1;281(48):36960-8.  17012229  
Mazzochi C, Benos DJ, Smith PR.Interaction of epithelial ion channels with the actin-based cytoskeleton. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2006 Dec;291(6):F1113-22.  16926444 
Hagens O, Ballabio A, Kalscheuer V, Kraehenbuhl JP, Schiaffino MV, Smith P, Staub O, Hildebrand J, Wallingford JB.A new standard nomenclature for proteins related to Apx and Shroom. BMC Cell Biol. 2006 Apr 14;7:18.  16615870 
Ji HL, Su XF, Kedar S, Li J, Barbry P, Smith PR, Matalon S, Benos DJ.Delta-subunit confers novel biophysical features to alpha beta gamma-human epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) via a physical interaction. J Biol Chem. 2006 Mar 24;281(12):8233-41  16423824 
Mazzochi C, Bubien JK, Smith PR, Benos DJ.The carboxyl terminus of the alpha-subunit of the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel binds to F-actin. J Biol Chem. 2006 Mar 10;281(10):6528-38.  16356937  
Narins SC, Ramakrishnan R, Park EH, Bolno PB, Haggerty DA, Smith PR, Meyers WC, Abedin MZ.Protein kinase C-alpha regulation of gallbladder Na+ transport becomes progressively more dysfunctional during gallstone formation. J Lab Clin Med. 2005 Oct;146(4):227-37.   16194684  
Narins SC, Ramakrishnan R, Park EH, Smith PR, Meyers WC, Abedin MZ.Gallbladder Na+/H+ exchange activity is up-regulated prior to cholesterol crystal formation. Eur J Clin Invest. 2005 Aug;35(8):514-22.  16101672  
Narins SC, Park EH, Ramakrishnan R, Garcia FU, Diven JN, Balin BJ, Hammond CJ, Sodam BR, Smith PR, Abedin MZ.Functional characterization of Na(+)/H(+) exchangers in primary cultures of prairie dog gallbladder. J Membr Biol. 2004 Jan 15;197(2):123-34  15014914  
Raychowdhury MK, Ibarra C, Damiano A, Jackson GR Jr, Smith PR, McLaughlin M, Prat AG, Ausiello DA, Lader AS, Cantiello HF.Characterization of Na+-permeable cation channels in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells.J Biol Chem. 2004 May 7;279(19):20137-46  14982925  
Smith PR, Benos DJ.Localization of epithelial sodium channels by atomic force microscopy.Methods Mol Biol. 2004;242:281-89  14578528