Dr. Peter J.A. Davies

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University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Executive Vice President for Research
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Medical School
Integrative Biology and Pharmacology
Professor

Mailing Address

5.104 MSB
University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center
Houston, Texas 77225
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (713) 500-7480
peter.j.davies@uth.tmc.edu

Qualifications

Ph.D., University of Miami, Biochemistry, 1975.
M.D., University of Miami, Medicine, 1972.
B.A., Cornell University, Chemistry, 1967.

Expertise and Research Interests

Retinoids are a group of naturally occurring metabolites; of Vitamin A that exert profound effects on the growth and differentiation of malignant cells. Studies in this laboratory have demonstrated that a specific retinoid, 13 transretinoic acid, has a direct effect on the rate of expression of a specific enzyme, tissue transglutaminase, in normal and leukemic macrophages. The expression of tissue transglutaminases is used to characterize the molecular steps involved in the interactions of retinoic acid with a target cell. Specifically, investigations are centered on how retinoids are delivered to susceptible cells, how the retinoids reach the nucleus and how they interact with chromatin to regulate gene expression. It is hoped that these studies will establish the role of retinoids in the regulation of proliferation of both normal and leukemic cells. Research techniques include the design and systematic evaluation of experimental data, the use of normal and leukemic cultured cells as model systems, the use of immunochemical approaches to biochemical research, and the use of electrophoresis, HPLC chromatography and recombinant DNA techniques.

Other Expertise

Committees:
American Heart Association, Texas Affiliate, Research Resources and Allocations Committee;
UTHHSC Interfaculty Council, Past Member;
UTHHSC, MD/PHD Committee;
UTHHSC Medical School Interview Committee for Applicants.

Honors/Awards:
UTHHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award;
UTHHSC Medical School Dean's Teaching Excellence Award.

Review Committees:
American Heart Association, Texas Affiliate, Research Review Committee;
National Institutes of Health Cellular and Molecular Biology, Study Section.

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Biochemistry, Cancer Or Carcinogenesis, Growth Factors, Hormones.

Additional Terms:

Biochemist, Carcinogenesis, Cell Transformation, Cyclic AMP, Growth Regulation, Hormones, Macrophages, Retinoic Acid, Transglutaminase.

Publications

  • Uray IP, Connelly JH, Frazier OH, Taegtmeyer H, Davies PJ, Mechanical unloading increases caveolin expression in the failing human heart, Cardiovascular Research, 59(1), 57-66, July 2003
  • Ahuja HS, Szanto A, Nagy L, Davies PJ, The retinoid X receptor and its ligands: versatile regulators of metabolic function, cell differentiation and cell death, Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents, 17(1), 29-45, 2003
  • Thomazy VA, Luthra R, Uthman MO, Davies PJ, Medeiros LJ, Determination of cyclin D1 and CD20 mRNA levels by real-time quantitative RT-PCR from archival tissue sections of mantle cell lymphoma and other non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics : Jmd, 4(4), 201-8, November 2002 Abstract
  • Festoff BW, SantaCruz K, Arnold PM, Sebastian CT, Davies PJ, Citron BA, Injury-induced 'switch' from GTP-regulated to novel GTP-independent isoform of tissue transglutaminase in the rat spinal cord, Journal of Neurochemistry, 81(4), 708-18, May 2002 Abstract
  • Depre C, Young ME, Ying J, Ahuja HS, Han Q, Garza N, Davies PJ, Taegtmeyer H, Streptozotocin-induced changes in cardiac gene expression in the absence of severe contractile dysfunction, Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 32(6), 985-96, June 2000 Abstract
  • Thomazy VA, Davies PJ, Expression of tissue transglutaminase in the developing chicken limb is associated both with apoptosis and endochondral ossification., Cell Death and Differentiation, 6(2), 146-54, February 1999 Abstract
  • Murtaugh MP, Moore WT Jr, Davies PJ, Cyclic AMP potentiates the retinoic acid-induced expression of tissue transglutaminase in peritoneal macrophages, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 261(2), 614-21, 1986 Abstract
  • Davies PJ, Murtaugh MP, Moore WT Jr, Johnson GS, Lucas D, Retinoic acid-induced expression of tissue transglutaminase in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 260(8), 5166-74, 1985 Abstract
  • Piacenti., M., Ceru, M.P., Dini, L., Dirao, M., Piredda, L., Thomazy, V., DAVIES, P.J.A., Fesus, L. In vivo and in vitro induction of tissue transglutaminase in rat hepatocytes by retinoic acid. Bioc Biop A 1135(2):171-179, Jun 10 1992
  • Schroeder, W.T., Thacher, S.M., Stewart-G., S., Annarell., M., Chema, D., Siciliano, M.J., DAVIES, P.J.A., Tang, H.Y., Sowa, B.A., Duvic, M. Type-I keratinocyte transglutaminase - expression in human skin and psoriasis. J Inves Der 99(1):27-34, Jul 1992
  • Gentile, V., Saydak, M., Chiocca, E.A., Akande, O., Birck-Bic., P.J., Lee, K.N., Stein, J.P., DAVIES, P.J.A. Isolation and characterization of cDNA clones to mouse macrophage andhuman endothelial-cell tissue transglutaminases. J Biol Chem 266(1):478-483,Jan 5 1991
  • Fesus, L., DAVIES, P.J.A., Piacenti., M. Apoptosis - molecular mechanisms in programmed cell death. Eur J Cell 56(2):170-177, Dec 1991
  • DAVIES, P.J.A., Gentile, V., Saydak, M., Thomazy, V., Gil, D., Chandrar, R. Retinoid receptor-required expression of tissue transglutaminase. J Inves Der 100(2):210, Feb 1993

Profile Details

Last Updated: 9/9/2003

COS Expertise ID #303570
Reference this profile directly: http://myprofile.cos.com/pdavies