Connor Jimenez

Dr. Connor Jimenez

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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13 September 2023 in Journal of General Physiology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EAElizabeth J. Akin
Elizabeth J. Akin
JAJoydeep Aoun
Joydeep Aoun
CJConnor Jimenez
Connor Jimenez
KMKatie Mayne
Katie Mayne
JBJulius Baeck
Julius Baeck
NLNormand Leblanc
Normand Leblanc
Pulmonary arterial (PA) smooth muscle cells (PASMC) generate vascular tone in response to agonists coupled to Gq-protein receptor signaling. Such agonists stimulate oscillating calcium waves, the frequency of which drives the strength of contraction. These Ca2+ events are modulated by a variety of ion channels including voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV1.2), the Tmem16a or Anoctamin-1 (ANO1)-encoded calcium-activated chloride (CaCC) channel, and Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum through inositol-trisphosphate receptors (IP3R). Although these calcium events have been characterized, it is unclear how these calcium oscillations underly a sustained contraction in these muscle cells. We used smooth muscle–specific ablation of ANO1 and pharmacological tools to establish the role of ANO1, CaV1.2, and IP3R in the contractile and intracellular Ca2+ signaling properties of mouse PA smooth muscle expressing the Ca2+ biosensor GCaMP3 or GCaMP6. Pharmacological block or genetic ablation of ANO1 or inhibition of CaV1.2 or IP3R, or Ca2+ store depletion equally inhibited 5-HT-induced tone and intracellular Ca2+ waves. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that an anti-ANO1 antibody was able to pull down both CaV1.2 and IP3R. Confocal and superresolution nanomicroscopy showed that ANO1 coassembles with both CaV1.2 and IP3R at or near the plasma membrane of PASMC from wild-type mice. We conclude that the stable 5-HT-induced PA contraction results from the integration of stochastic and localized Ca2+ events supported by a microenvironment comprising ANO1, CaV1.2, and IP3R. In this model, ANO1 and CaV1.2 would indirectly support cyclical Ca2+ release events from IP3R and propagation of intracellular Ca2+ waves.

21 October 2022 in Biochemical Pharmacology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CJConnor Jimenez
Connor Jimenez
MHMatthew B. Hawn
Matthew B. Hawn
EAElizabeth Akin
Elizabeth Akin
NLNormand Leblanc
Normand Leblanc

10 February 2023 in Biophysical Journal
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
MHMatthew B. Hawn
Matthew B. Hawn
CJConnor Jimenez
Connor Jimenez
RARamon J. Ayon
Ramon J. Ayon
MWMichael Wiwchar
Michael Wiwchar
NLNormand Leblanc
Normand Leblanc