Jerold Chun, M.D., Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor(s)
Lab Website
Jerold Chun's Research Focus
- Genomic Mosaicism in the Brain: Genomic mosaicism (GM) is a surprising phenomenon whereby cells from the same brain actually have distinct genomes (different DNA sequences). We continue to define forms of GM, involved cell types, and GM’s impact on normal brain function and disease. Diseases of particular interest include Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases as well as neuropsychiatric disorders and substance abuse.
- Lysophospholipid Receptor Signaling: Lysophospholipids, such as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) are small fat molecules that act through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) on the surface of cells. We continue to study fundamental aspects of their signaling properties, and their disease roles in hydrocephalus (water on the brain), neuropsychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, autism), and neurodegenerative disorders (multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease).
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery: From these and other research areas, new therapeutics for diseases of the brain are being pursued, which include identifying new targets, novel biomarkers, and mechanism-of-action studies. This approach successfully aided in the development of the first oral treatment for multiple sclerosis, fingolimod, and related lysophospholipid receptor compounds. Drug discovery efforts include not only small molecules, but also other forms of molecular therapeutics.
Jerold Chun's Bio
Professor at UCSD and TSRI
Department Head, Molecular Neuroscience, Merck Research Labs
Why do you do what you do?
I love doing science, and a chance to do some good for the world. Sanford Burnham Prebys is a great place to pursue science.
Education
1988-1991: Postdoctoral Fellow, Whitehead Institute/MIT, laboratories of Drs. Rudolf Jaenisch and David Baltimore, Developmental and Molecular Biology
1988: M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University School of Medicine, Neuroscience
1981: B.A., University of Hawaii at Manoa, English and Biology
Honors and recognition
2016: Alzheimer’s San Diego Courage and Hope Award
2014: Thomson Reuters World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds list of highly cited researchers
2011: Killam Lecturer, Montreal Neurological Institute
2010: Journal of Lipid Research Lecturer, Keystone Symposium on Bioactive Lipids: Biochemistry and Diseases, Kyoto, Japan
2007: Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Neuroscience, LSU Medical School
1999-2006: Independent Scientist Award, NIMH
1994-1999: First Award, NIMH
1993-1995: Basil O'Connor Scholar (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation), UCSD
1992-1995: Klingenstein Fellow in the Neurosciences, UCSD
1992-1994: Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow, UCSD
1988-1991: Helen Hay Whitney Fellow, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
1981-1988: Trainee, Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), Stanford University School of Medicine
Publications
Somatic APP gene recombination in Alzheimer's disease and normal neurons.
Lee MH, Siddoway B, Kaeser GE, Segota I, Rivera R, Romanow WJ, Liu CS, Park C, Kennedy G, Long T, Chun J
Nature 2018 Nov ;563(7733):639-645
A Functionally Defined In Vivo Astrocyte Population Identified by c-Fos Activation in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis Modulated by S1P Signaling: Immediate-Early Astrocytes (ieAstrocytes).
Groves A, Kihara Y, Jonnalagadda D, Rivera R, Kennedy G, Mayford M, Chun J
eNeuro 2018 Sep-Oct ;5(5)
A Functionally Defined In Vivo Astrocyte Population Identified by c-Fos Activation in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis Modulated by S1P Signaling: Immediate-Early Astrocytes (ieAstrocytes).
Groves A, Kihara Y, Jonnalagadda D, Rivera R, Kennedy G, Mayford M, Chun J
eNeuro 2018 Sep-Oct ;5(5)
Reply to: APP gene copy number changes reflect exogenous contamination.
Lee MH, Liu CS, Zhu Y, Kaeser GE, Rivera R, Romanow WJ, Kihara Y, Chun J
Nature 2020 Aug ;584(7821):E29-E33
Brain cell somatic gene recombination and its phylogenetic foundations.
Kaeser G, Chun J
J Biol Chem 2020 Sep 4 ;295(36):12786-12795
Unlabeled lysophosphatidic acid receptor binding in free solution as determined by a compensated interferometric reader.
Ray M, Nagai K, Kihara Y, Kussrow A, Kammer MN, Frantz A, Bornhop DJ, Chun J
J Lipid Res 2020 Aug ;61(8):1244-1251
Mosaic Somatic Gene Recombination as a Potentially Unifying Hypothesis for Alzheimer's Disease.
Kaeser GE, Chun J
Front Genet 2020 ;11:390
Expression of the type 1 lysophosphatidic acid receptor in osteoblastic cell lineage controls both bone mineralization and osteocyte specification.
Alioli CA, Demesmay L, Laurencin-Dalacieux S, Beton N, Farlay D, Follet H, Saber A, Duboeuf F, Chun J, Rivera R, Bouvard D, Machuca-Gayet I, Salles JP, Gennero I, Peyruchaud O
Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2020 Aug ;1865(8):158715
Glycerol-3-phosphate is an FGF23 regulator derived from the injured kidney.
Simic P, Kim W, Zhou W, Pierce KA, Chang W, Sykes DB, Aziz NB, Elmariah S, Ngo D, Pajevic PD, Govea N, Kestenbaum BR, de Boer IH, Cheng Z, Christov M, Chun J, Leaf DE, Waikar SS, Tager AM, Gerszten RE, Thadhani RI, Clish CB, Jüppner H, Wein MN, Rhee EP
J Clin Invest 2020 Mar 2 ;130(3):1513-1526