Education
B.S., Biology, University of the South (Sewanee),
1987
M.S., Molecular Biology, Middle Tennessee State University,
1991
Ph.D., Molecular Physiology, Vanderbilt University, 1994
Profile
Dr. Collins has broad training in biology and physiology and
has been involved in basic science research for over 15 years,
including post-doctoral work in transport physiology at the
University of Arizona. His specific area of research is related
to intestinal nutrient absorption, with a particular emphasis
on metal ion transport across the intestinal epithelium. Dr
Collins utilizes animal and in vitro models of human physiology
to investigate the molecular biology and genetics of specific
genes and proteins involved in iron, copper and zinc transport.
Research Interests
My research program is founded in observations made by novel
DNA microarray studies performed with samples isolated from
the intestines of control and iron-deficient rats at different
stages of post-natal development. This investigation led to
the discovery that absorption of other metals is perturbed
in the iron-deficient state, including increased intestinal
copper transport. Subsequent studies found that the Menkes
copper ATPase (ATP7A; a copper transport protein) is strongly
induced by iron-deprivation and that the protein is present
on both domains of intestinal epithelial cells. Other studies
are underway with human duodenal biopsy samples, in collaboration
with the University of Washington in Seattle. The overall
objective of these studies is to identify novel genes involved
in intestinal metal ion absorption in humans, by utilizing
gene chip technology and other experimental methodologies.
These studies are currently funded by a research grant from
the National Institutes of Health.
Selected Publications
- Collins JF, Hu Z, Ranganathan PN, Feng D, Garrick LM, Garrick MD, Browne RW. (2008) Induction of Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase in Intestine of Fe-Deficient Rats Results in Production of Biologically Active Lipid Mediators. Am. J. Physiol. GI/Liv. Physiol. 294(4):G948-62.
- Collins JF (2007) Novel insights into intestinal and renal folate transport. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. Editorial Focus. 294(2):C381-2. Epub 2007 Dec 5.
- Hu Z, Hu B, Collins JF. (2007) Prediction of synergistic transcription factors by function conservation. Genome Biology. 2007 Dec 5;8(12):R257 [Epub ahead of print].
- Collins JF, Hu Z. (2007) Promoter analysis of intestinal genes induced during iron-deprivation reveals enrichment of conserved Sp1-like binding sites. BMC Genomics. 2007 Nov 15;8(1):420 [Epub ahead of print].
- Collins JF. (2006) Gene Chip Analyses Reveal Differential Genetic Responses to Iron-Deficiency in Rat Duodenum and Jejunum. Biol. Res.39:25-37.
- Kolek OI, Hines ER, Jones MD, Lesueur LK, Lipko MA, Kiela PR, Collins JF, Haussler MR, Ghishan FK. (2005) 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 up-regulates FGF23 gene expression in bone: the final link in a renal-gastrointestinal-skeletal axis that controls phosphate transport. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 289(6):G1036-42.
Professional Affiliations
- International Society for Trace Element Research in Humans (ISTERH) [2007]
- American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2005)
- East Coast Iron Club (2005)
- International BioIron Society (2004)
- American Physiological Society (1999)
- American Gastroenterological Association (1998)
Faculty Links:
|
