Jordan Jesse
Graduate Student (GEMS)
Trainee, VBST Training Program
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Contact
Building & Room:
2168 COMRB
Email:
Advisor Heading link
Dan Shaye, PhD
VBST Trainee Heading link
2022-24
Project Heading link
Mentors: Dan Shaye, PhD and Jan Kitajewski, PhD
My project uses the model organism C. elegans to study EXC-4/CLIC’s role in tubulogenesis, the process by which biological tubes are formed. Tubulogenesis is crucial during organ development and the vascular system, particularly in blood vessel formation and function. C. elegans shares significant genetic orthology with humans, thus my project aims to connect conserved regulators of both C. elegans tubulogenesis and vertebrate angiogenesis. Prior work has identified CLIC1, CLIC4, and EXC-4 as required for GPCR-Gα-Rho/Rac signaling important for endothelial morphogenetic processes and ExCa tubulogenesis. We are investigating the C-terminal domain features that confer specificity to CLIC/EXC-4’s distinct, non-overlapping roles both in C. elegans and primary endothelial cell systems. Delineation of these CLIC-mediated signaling mechanisms is necessary to fully harness therapeutic targeting of endothelial GPCR-regulated downstream effectors.