Harry Nick Harry Nick studies the molecular mechanisms that control tissue specific gene regulation and in targeting the expression of cytoprotective proteins through gene therapy strategies. Professor of Neuroscience Investigator, McKnight Brain Institute Training Postdoc - Biology Labs, Harvard University and Biogen Research Corporation Mentor: Walter Gilbert Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania B.A. Biology and Chemistry Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio Contact phone: 352.392.3303 office: ARB R3-116 lab: ARB R3-144 email:hnick@ufl.edu Nick lab site Our laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms which control tissue specific gene regulation. Research has focused on proteins which exhibit both pro- and anti-inflammatory activities in the lung, intestine and brain. These genes include manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a potent cyto protective anti-oxidant protein, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene which generates elevated levels of the powerful neurotransmitter and vasodilator, nitric oxide (NO) and cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) which controls intracellular levels of arachidonate metabolites. These genes are also linked through transcriptional regulation by a subset of pro-inflammatory mediators, including bacterial endotoxin (LPS), interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a) and interferon-g. Research Associates   Kimberly Aiken, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow       Recent Publications Upstream stimulatory factors, USF1 and USF2, bind to the human haem oxygenase-1 proximal promoter in vivo and regulate its transcription. Hock TD, Nick HS, Agarwal A. Biochem J. 2004 Oct 15;383(Pt 2):209-18. Role of hydrogen bonding in the active site of human manganese superoxide dismutase. Greenleaf WB, Perry JJ, Hearn AS, Cabelli DE, Lepock JR, Stroupe ME, Tainer JA, Nick HS, Silverman DN. Biochemistry. 2004 Jun 8;43(22):7038-45. Potent anti-tumor effects of an active site mutant of human MnSOD: Evolutionary conservation of product inhibition. Davis CA, Hearn AS, Fletcher B, Bickford J, Garcia JE, Leveque V, Melendez JA, Silverman DN, Zucali J, Agarwal A, Nick HS. J Biol Chem. 2003 Dec 18 [Epub ahead of print].