Cojen Ho, Ph.D.

Contact Dr. Ho

1020 Locust Street
Jefferson Alumni Hall, Suite 271
Philadelphia, PA 19107

(215) 503-4034

Medical School
Ph. D., Thomas Jefferson University, 2005

University Appointment
Research Assistant Professor

Research and Clinical Interests
Research interest focuses on investigating ion channel expressions within primary afferent sensory neurons in pain models. Techniques used include single-cell qPCR, immunofluorescence and patch clamp electrophysiology. In collaboration with Dr. Michael OLeary, we are determining the altered expressions of voltage-gated calcium channels, TRP channels, and purinergic receptors in subtype nociceptors of dorsal root ganglia from streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals.

Publications

Most recent Peer-reviewed Publications

1. Differential expression of sodium channel β subunits in dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons
2. Modulation of Kv3.4 channel N-type inactivation by protein kinase C shapes the action potential in dorsal root ganglion neurons
3. Single-cell analysis of sodium channel expression in dorsal root ganglion neurons
4. Interaction of anesthetics with the Rho GTPase regulator Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor
5. Competitive binding of protein kinase Cα to membranes and Rho GTPases
6. The use of fluorescent phorbol esters in studies of protein kinase C-membrane interactions
7. The use of the fluorescence properties of indolocarbazole analogs of adenosine triphosphate as probes of the activating conformational change in protein kinase C
8. The C1 domain of protein kinase C as a lipid bilayer surface sensing module
9. Low- and high-affinity phorbol ester and diglyceride interactions with protein kinase C: 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerol enhances phorbol ester- and diacylglycerol-induced activity but alone does not induce activity
10. Conformation of the C1 phorbol-ester-binding domain participates in the activating conformational change of protein kinase C
11. Synergistic activation of protein kinase Cα, -βI, and -γ isoforms induced by diacylglycerol and phorbol ester: Roles of membrane association and activating conformational changes
12. Inhibition of membrane lipid-independent protein kinase Cα activity by phorbol esters, diacylglycerols, and bryostatin-1
13. Effect of n-alkanols on lipid bilayer hydration
14. Interaction of alcohols and anesthetics with protein kinase Cα
15. Protein kinase cot contains two activator sites that bind phorbol ester and diacylglycerol with opposite affinities
16. Polyunsaturation in cell membranes and lipid bilayers and its effects on membrane proteins
17. Protein kinase Cα contains two activator binding sites that bind phorbol esters and diacylglycerols with opposite affinities
18. Fluorescence techniques for probing water penetration into lipid bilayers
19. Direct activation of protein kinase C by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3
20. The effects of phospholipid unsaturation and alcohol perturbation at the protein/lipid interface probed using fluorophore lifetime heterogeneity

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