Bhanu Pratap Jena
Encyclopedia
Bhanu Pratap Jena is an American cell biologist and the " George E. Palade University Professor and Distinguished Professor of Physiology" at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, who in the mid 90’s discovered the Porosome
, demonstrated to be the universal secretory machinery at the plasma membrane in cells
, to pursue studies leading to a doctorate degree. In December 1988, he received his Ph.D. degree in Zoology (Molecular Endocrinology), Following postdoctoral studies at Iowa State and Yale Universities (1988–1994), Jena joined Yale University as an Assistant Professor, and in 2000, joined as Professor in the Department of Physiology, at Wayne State University
School of Medicine.
on live cells, Jena was the first to report the discovery of a new cellular structure the Porosome
in the mid 1990’s. The Porosome
are permanent supramolecular structures at the cell
Plasma membrane, where secretory Vesicle (biology and chemistry) dock and fuse to release intravesicular contents to the outside of the cell. This discovery was a major breakthrough in our understanding of cell secretion. The Porosome
, has been determined as the universal secretory machinery in cells, from exocrine cells of the pancreas
, to neuroendocrine cells, and neurons. Jena and his research team has determined the structure and dynamics of the Porosome
in live cells, at nm resolution and in real time. The structure of the Porosome
was further confirmed by electron microscopy in whole cells, and in isolated Porosome
preparations. The isolated Porosome
has been both structurally and functionally reconstituted in lipid membrane, and its composition determined. The discovery of the Porosome
, and an understanding of its structure, function, composition, and reconstitution, has opened a new field in cell biology
; nano cell biology[3].
Award (Prof. Klug is the 1982 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), Elected to the Korea Academy of Science & Technology, the 2005 George E. Palade Medal, six Honorary Doctorates including one from Babes-Bolyai University, Romania, jointly with Professors George E. Palade (the 1974 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine) and Gunter Blobel
(the 1999 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine), and Distinguished Visiting Professorships at numerous academic institutions around the world [3].
Porosome
Porosomes or fusion pores are cup-shaped structures in the cell membranes of eukaryotic cells where vesicles dock in the process of vesicle fusion and secretion. These structures are about 150 nanometers in diameter and contain many different types of protein, especially SNARE proteins that mediate...
, demonstrated to be the universal secretory machinery at the plasma membrane in cells
Biography
Jena was born in a small town in Orissa, India, on November 1, 1955, to Manju and Prafulla Jena. He majored in Chemistry, Zoology and Botany from BJB College in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India (B.Sc., 1975) and studied Zoology (Endocrinology) at Utkal University, Orissa, (M.Sc., 1978). Following four years of lectureship at various colleges in Utkal University (1978–82), in 1982 Jena received a teaching and research fellowship from Iowa State UniversityIowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
, to pursue studies leading to a doctorate degree. In December 1988, he received his Ph.D. degree in Zoology (Molecular Endocrinology), Following postdoctoral studies at Iowa State and Yale Universities (1988–1994), Jena joined Yale University as an Assistant Professor, and in 2000, joined as Professor in the Department of Physiology, at Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
School of Medicine.
Scientific Discoveries
Using Atomic force microscopeAtomic force microscope
Atomic force microscopy or scanning force microscopy is a very high-resolution type of scanning probe microscopy, with demonstrated resolution on the order of fractions of a nanometer, more than 1000 times better than the optical diffraction limit...
on live cells, Jena was the first to report the discovery of a new cellular structure the Porosome
Porosome
Porosomes or fusion pores are cup-shaped structures in the cell membranes of eukaryotic cells where vesicles dock in the process of vesicle fusion and secretion. These structures are about 150 nanometers in diameter and contain many different types of protein, especially SNARE proteins that mediate...
in the mid 1990’s. The Porosome
Porosome
Porosomes or fusion pores are cup-shaped structures in the cell membranes of eukaryotic cells where vesicles dock in the process of vesicle fusion and secretion. These structures are about 150 nanometers in diameter and contain many different types of protein, especially SNARE proteins that mediate...
are permanent supramolecular structures at the cell
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
Plasma membrane, where secretory Vesicle (biology and chemistry) dock and fuse to release intravesicular contents to the outside of the cell. This discovery was a major breakthrough in our understanding of cell secretion. The Porosome
Porosome
Porosomes or fusion pores are cup-shaped structures in the cell membranes of eukaryotic cells where vesicles dock in the process of vesicle fusion and secretion. These structures are about 150 nanometers in diameter and contain many different types of protein, especially SNARE proteins that mediate...
, has been determined as the universal secretory machinery in cells, from exocrine cells of the pancreas
Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist...
, to neuroendocrine cells, and neurons. Jena and his research team has determined the structure and dynamics of the Porosome
Porosome
Porosomes or fusion pores are cup-shaped structures in the cell membranes of eukaryotic cells where vesicles dock in the process of vesicle fusion and secretion. These structures are about 150 nanometers in diameter and contain many different types of protein, especially SNARE proteins that mediate...
in live cells, at nm resolution and in real time. The structure of the Porosome
Porosome
Porosomes or fusion pores are cup-shaped structures in the cell membranes of eukaryotic cells where vesicles dock in the process of vesicle fusion and secretion. These structures are about 150 nanometers in diameter and contain many different types of protein, especially SNARE proteins that mediate...
was further confirmed by electron microscopy in whole cells, and in isolated Porosome
Porosome
Porosomes or fusion pores are cup-shaped structures in the cell membranes of eukaryotic cells where vesicles dock in the process of vesicle fusion and secretion. These structures are about 150 nanometers in diameter and contain many different types of protein, especially SNARE proteins that mediate...
preparations. The isolated Porosome
Porosome
Porosomes or fusion pores are cup-shaped structures in the cell membranes of eukaryotic cells where vesicles dock in the process of vesicle fusion and secretion. These structures are about 150 nanometers in diameter and contain many different types of protein, especially SNARE proteins that mediate...
has been both structurally and functionally reconstituted in lipid membrane, and its composition determined. The discovery of the Porosome
Porosome
Porosomes or fusion pores are cup-shaped structures in the cell membranes of eukaryotic cells where vesicles dock in the process of vesicle fusion and secretion. These structures are about 150 nanometers in diameter and contain many different types of protein, especially SNARE proteins that mediate...
, and an understanding of its structure, function, composition, and reconstitution, has opened a new field in cell biology
Cell biology
Cell biology is a scientific discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level...
; nano cell biology[3].
Awards
Among some of the honors and awards Professor Jena has received are, the Ranbaxy Award, the Hallim Distinguished Award Lecture jointly with Prof. Ahmed H. Zewail (the 1999 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), the Sir. Aaron KlugAaron Klug
Sir Aaron Klug, OM, PRS is a Lithuanian-born British chemist and biophysicist, and winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his development of crystallographic electron microscopy and his structural elucidation of biologically important nucleic acid-protein complexes.-Biography:Klug was...
Award (Prof. Klug is the 1982 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), Elected to the Korea Academy of Science & Technology, the 2005 George E. Palade Medal, six Honorary Doctorates including one from Babes-Bolyai University, Romania, jointly with Professors George E. Palade (the 1974 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine) and Gunter Blobel
Günter Blobel
-Biography:Blobel was born in Waltersdorf in the Prussian Province of Lower Silesia. In January 1945 his family fled from native Silesia from the advancing Red Army. On their way to the West they passed through the beautiful old city of Dresden, which left deep impressions in the young boy...
(the 1999 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine), and Distinguished Visiting Professorships at numerous academic institutions around the world [3].