Dr Paul Thomas
| Job Title | Contact | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Cell Imaging FM |
P dot Thomas at uea dot ac dot uk
Tel: +44 (0)1603 59 2196 |
Sciences 01.03 |
Career
- Director - Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Cell Imaging, UEA (2003-present)
- Fellow - University of Cambridge (1997-2003)
- Postdoctoral Fellow - University of California at Davis, USA (1992-1997)
- Postdoctoral Fellow - University of Washington, Seattle, USA (1989-1992)
- Ph.D. - Cell and Developmental Biology - University of California at Davis, USA (1989)
- M.Phil. - Biochemistry - University College London (1983)
- B.Sc. - Physiology & Biochemistry - University of London (ext.) (1977)
Key Research Interests
My research concerns signalling via G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in secretory epithelial (acinar) cells of exocrine tissues (particularly, the pancreas and the breast). We have shown that these cells possess two modes of secretion. One mode is employed preferentially in response to physiological concentrations of agonist, whilst the second mode predominates when the cells are stimulated by supramaximal doses. These modes are characterized by their relative sensitivity to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin. Our working hypothesis is that such mode switching is determined by two factors: 1) the synthesis of "third messengers" coupled to calcium entry into mitochondria, and 2) the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase that is elicited either through G-signalling or by the GPCR-mediated transactivation of EGF receptors. Thus, cross-talk between these multiple signalling pathways, and the relevance of such cross-talk to the control of secretion and cell fate will form the focus of my future research.
Current Research Projects
- Development of long-term, 3D-culture systems for both pancreatic and mammary acinar cells.
- The role of GPCR-mediated signalling in determining cell fate.
- Development of an in vitro model of pancreatic cancer.
Life in our research group
My laboratory is based both in BIO and the Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Cell Imaging (http://www.uea.ac.uk/bio/biobmi). I use a combination of live-cell imaging (both widefield and confocal), biochemical and electrophysiological techniques on primary-cultured, mouse or rat pancreatic acinar cells and immortal, human mammary cell lines (HMT3522).Teaching Activities
- I teach on the following courses: Introduction to Biomedicine (1A5Y), Microbiology (2B28), Cellular Signalling (3C03), Advanced Cell Biology (3C18).
- I offer an undergraduate Research Projects (3C32).
Article
Pickett, J. A., Campos-Toimil, M. and Thomas, P. (2007) Identification of SNAREs that mediate zymogen granule exocytosis. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun, 359. pp. 599-603.
Thomas, P., Bagrij, T., Campos-Toimil, M. and Edwardson, J.M. (2006) Mitochondria play a critical role in shaping the exocytotic response of rat pancreatic acinar cells. Cell Calcium, 39 (1). pp. 57-63. ISSN 0143-4160
Bagrij, T., Campos-Toimil, M., Edwardson, J.M. and Thomas, P. (2002) Regulation of exocytosis in pancreatic acinar cells by capacitative Ca2+ entry. Pflügers Archiv, 443. p. 184.
Campos-Toimil, M., Bagrij, T., Edwardson, J.M. and Thomas, P. (2002) Two modes of secretion in pancreatic acinar cells: involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and regulation by capacitative Ca2+ entry. Current Biology, 12 (3). pp. 211-215. ISSN 0960-9822
Campos-Toimil, M., Edwardson, J.M. and Thomas, P. (2002) Acetylcholine-induced zymogen granule exocytosis: comparison between acini and single pancreatic acinar cells. Pancreas, 24 (2). pp. 179-183. ISSN 0885-3177
Thomas, P. and Smith, P.A. (2001) Tetrabutylammonium: a selective blocker of the somatostatin-activated hyperpolarizing current in mouse AtT-20 corticotrophs. Pflügers Archiv European Journal of Physiology , 441 (6). pp. 816-823. ISSN 0031-6768
External Activities and Indicators of Esteem
- Society memberships: Physiological Society and the Society of General Physiologists
- Invited lectures: Recent advances in live-cell imaging - EuroSciCon (2006); XXXVth Annual Meeting of the European Pancreatic Club (2003); 73rd Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society (1991); VI International Congress of Spermatology (1990)
- Honours & Awards: Pharmacology Fellow, University of Cambridge (1997-2002); NIH Post-doctoral trainee, University of California at Davis (1993-94) and University of Washington (1989-91); University of California Regents' Fellowship (1988)
Administrative Posts/Responsibilities
- Director of the Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Cell Imaging.
