James Douglas Jamieson MD, PhD
Professor of Cell Biology; Director, MD/PhD Program
Biographical Info
For most of my research career, I have focused on the
processes of synthesis, trafficking and exocytosis of secretory
proteins from the pancreatic acinar cell which has served as the
paradigm for examining the “Intracellular Aspects of the Process of
Protein Secretion”*.
My early work as a graduate student with George
Palade at the Rockefeller University was involved in defining the role
of the Golgi complex in the process which culminates in the formation
of zymogen granules. Subsequently, among other topics, my laboratory
examined the development and regulation of exocytosis of secretory
proteins from the acinar cell, membrane biogenesis and polarity in
epithelial cells, and the relationship of cell polarity to the basement
membrane.
Later work on this topic examined in
detail the role of low Mr GTPases in regulated exocytosis. Since
regulated exocytosis is accompanied by compensatory endocytosis of
excess membrane inserted into the apical plasmalemma, we went on to
illustrate an essential role of the actin cytoskeleton in this process
and have demonstrated that proteins required for formation of endocytic
vesicles (clathrin, adaptors, dynamin etc.) assemble at sites of
exocytosis prior to compensatory membrane retrieval.
After
more than 30 years carrying out cell biologic research with an
impressive and accomplished group of graduate students and postdoctoral
fellows, I decided to close my laboratory in 2001 in order to focus my
interests on teaching Cell Biology and Histology to first-year medical
students.
As part of my teaching interest, I also direct the MD/PhD Program at Yale University School of Medicine.
This allows me to be involved in the education of both medical students
and graduate students. The dual degree Program is meant to provide
trainees with a broad exposure to human biology and medicine, and to an
in-depth and rigorous training in one of the scholarly disciplines
relevant to medicine. The ultimate goal of educating this group of
students is to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical
medicine.
*Palade, G.E. Intracellular Aspects of the Process
of Protein Secretion. Nobel Lecture, December 12, 1974. published in
Science, 189:347-358, 1975.
Education & Training
- M.D.
- University of British Columbia (1960)
- Ph.D.
- Rockefeller University (1966)
- M.A.
- Yale University (1975)
Honors & Recognition
- The Eric W. Hamber Gold Medal & Prize
(1960) - Horner Gold Medal ( Internal Medicine)
(1960) - Distinguished Achievement Award
American Gastoenterological Association (1993) - Bohmfalk Prize for teaching excellence in the basic sciences
(1999) - Teacher of the Year Award, Class of 2008
Yale University School of Medicine (2005) - Alpha Omega Alpha
(1960) - Honorary Medical Staff
Yale New Haven Hopsital (1987) - NIH Merit Award, R-37-DK17389
(1988)
Professional Service
- President, American Pancreatic Association (1989 - 1990)
- President, American Society of Cell Biology (1982 - 1983)
