HOWARD M. JERNIGAN, JR.
PROFESSOR

EDUCATION:
B.S. 1965, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
Ph.D. 1970, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Postdoctoral 1970-73, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

RESEARCH INTERESTS: The general area of research in my laboratory is the metabolism of the ocular lens and the biochemical changes which occur during formation of cataracts. Because the cells and proteins of the lens are not replaced during the several decades of human life and aging, they are subject to slow, cumulative damage and deterioration, eventually leading to formation of cataracts (opacities of the lens). Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness worldwide, and they cause approximately one million surgical procedures yearly in the U.S. alone. The rationale for my research is that if the biochemical changes related to cataracts are sufficiently understood, it may be possible to devise practical nonsurgical means of intervention to prevent or delay cataract formation. My laboratory has studied cataract-related changes in metabolism of several classes of biological molecules, including amino acids and phospholipid precursors. We use several animal models for cataract, including cataract formation in cultured whole lenses. We have recently identified the causes of changes widely reported to occur in small phosphorylated molecules in stressed and cataractous human and animal lenses. Our current research centers on phospholipid synthesis and membrane properties in specific areas of the lens.

CURRENT RESEARCH SUPPORT:
R01 EY07938 "Organic Phosphate Metabolism in Lens Stress and Cataract" July 1, 1994 - June 30, 1998; $493,787 TDC ($116,728 Current Year)

GRADUATE STUDENTS:
A.S. Vallari, M.S., 1986

PUBLICATIONS: (since 1980)
Kador, P.F., Fukui, H.N., Fukushi, S., Jernigan, H.M., Jr., and Kinoshita, J.H. (1980) Philly mouse: A new model of hereditary cataract. Exp. Eye Res. 30, 59-68.
Kador, P.F., Jernigan, H.M., Jr., and Kinoshita, J.H. (1980) Accumulation and incorporation of radiolabeled choline into cultured rabbit lenses: Evidence for Choline transport system.
Exp. Eye Res. 30, 1-11.
Jernigan, H.M., Jr., Fukui, H.N., Goosey, J.D., and Kinoshita, J.H. (1981) Photodynamic effects of rose bengal and riboflavin on carrier-mediated transport of choline in rat lens. Exp. Eye Res. 32, 461-466.
Jernigan, H.M., Jr., Kador, P.F., and Kinoshita, J.H. (1981) Carrier-mediated transport of choline in rat lens. Exp. Eye Res. 32, 709-717.
Zelenka, P.S. and Jernigan, H.M., Jr. (1982) Phosphorylcholine and phosphorylethanolamine concentrations in the lens. Exp. Eye Res. 34, 209-217.
Zigler, J.S., Jernigan, H.M., Jr., Perlmutter, N.S., and Kinoshita, J.H. (1982) Photodynamic cross-linking of polypeptides in intact rat lens. Exp. Eye Res. 35, 239-249.
Jernigan, H.M., Jr. (1983) Metabolism of 15N-labeled amino acids in rat lens. Exp. Eye Res. 37, 77-84.
Jernigan, H.M., Jr. (1983) Urea formation in rat, bovine, and human lens. Exp. Eye Res., 37, 551-558.
Jernigan, J.M., Jr. and Laranang, A.S. (1984) Effects of riboflavin-sensitized photo-oxidation on choline metabolism in cultured rat lenses. Current Eye Res. 3, 121-126.
Jernigan, J.M., Jr. and Laranang, A.S. (1984) Metabolism of the alpha amino nitrogen of glutamine in rat lens. Exp. Eye Res., 39, 113-122.
Jernigan, J.M., Jr. and Vallari, A.S. (1985) Effects of photo-oxidation on transport systems in lens. Lens Res., 2, 159-170.
Jernigan, H.M., Jr. (1985) The role of hydrogen peroxide in riboflavin-sensitized photodynamic damage to cultured rat lenses. Exp. Eye Res. 41, 121-129.
Zigler, J.S., Jr., Jernigan, H.M., Jr., Garland, D., and Reddy, V.N. (1985) The effects of 'Oxygen radicals' generated in the medium on lenses in organ culture: Inhibition of damage by chelated iron. Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 241, 163-172.
Geller, A.M., Kotb, M.Y.S., Jernigan, H.M., Jr., and Kredich, N.M. (1986) Purification and properties of rat lens methionine adenosyltransferase. Exp. Eye Res., 43, 997-1008.
Vallari, A.S., Macleod, R.M., and Jernigan, H.M., Jr. (1987) Rat lens glutaminase: Separation and characterization of soluble and particulate fractions. Exp. Eye Res., 45, 491-500.
Jernigan, H.M., Jr. and Zigler, J.S., Jr. (1987) Metabolism of glutamine and glutamate in monkey lens. Exp. Eye Res., 44, 871-876.
Geller, A.M., Kotb, M.Y.S., Jernigan, H.M., Jr., and Kredich, N.M. (1988) Methionine adenosyl-transferase and S-adenosylmethionine in the developing rat lens. Exp. Eye Res., 47, 197-204.
Lou, M.F., Garadi, R.P., Thomas, D.M., Mahendroo, P.P., York, B.M., Jr., and Jernigan, H.M., Jr. (1989) The effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor on lens phosphorylcholine under hyperglycemic conditions: Biochemical and NMR studies. Exp. Eye Res., 48, 11-24.
Jernigan, H.M., Jr. and Zigler, J.S., Jr. (1989) Phosphorylcholine and phosphorylethanolamine in human and resus monkey lenses. Exp. Eye Res., 49, 901-909.
Geller, A.M., Zigler, J.S., Jr., and Jernigan, H.M., Jr. (1990) Serine hydroxymethyltransferase: Evidence for its presence in human, monkey, and rat lenses. Exp. Eye Res., 50, 149-155.
Jernigan, H.M., Jr. (1990) Metabolism of glutamine and glutamate in human lenses.
Exp. Eye Res., 50, 597-601.
Desouky, M.A., Geller, A.M., and Jernigan, H.M., Jr. (1992) Effect of osmotic stress on phos-phorylcholine efflux and turnover in rat lenses. Exp. Eye Res., 54, 269-276.
Jernigan, H.M., Jr., Desouky, M.A., Geller, A.M., Blum, P.S., and Ekambaram, M.C. (1993) Efflux and hydrolysis of phosphorylethanolamine and phosphorylcholine in stressed cultured rat lenses. Exp. Eye Res., 56, 25-33.
Jernigan, H.M., Jr., Ekambaram, M.E., Blum, P.S., and Blanchard, M.S. (1993) Effect of xylose on the synthesis of phosphorylcholine and phosphorylethanolamine in rat lenses. Exp. Eye Res., 56, 291-97.
Ekambaram, M.C. and Jernigan, H.M., Jr. (1994) Rat lens choline and ethanolamine kinases: Independent kinetics in intact tissue - competition in homogenates. Biochim. et Biophys. Acta., 1213, 289-294.