Hinton, Ayana - Denison University

Dr. Ayana Hinton

Affiliation:	Faculty
Title:	Assistant Professor
Specialty:	Cell & Molecular Biologist
Office:	515 Talbot Hall
Lab:	520 Talbot Hall
Email:	hintona@denison.edu
Phone:	740-587-6327
Fax:	740-587-5634

Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from Wayne State University, 2004

B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Michigan, 1996

Teaching

Dr. Hinton teaches Eukaryotic Cell Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, and other advanced courses in the Biology department.

Academic Positions

Assistant Professor, Department of Biology at Denison University , 2010-present

Adjunct Faculty, Department of Science - Biological Science Program at Bunker Hill Community College, Boston, MA, 2009

Research

Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

Post-doctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Dr. Michael Forgac, 2004-2010

Wayne State University

Pre-doctoral student, Laboratory of Dr. Sharon Ackerman, 1999-2004

University of Michigan

Undergraduate Independent Study Research, Laboratory of Dr. Levi Thompson, 1994-1996

Research Focus

Many proteins in the cell are large structures composed of several smaller polypeptides called subunits. These subunits must be properly assembled together to produce a functional protein. A better understanding of how large protein complexes are assembled could lead to new therapeutic targets for the treatment of many diseases including cancer. My research focuses on the assembly and targeting of the Vascuolar H+-ATPase. V-ATPases are essential for acidifying intracellular compartments. Several proteins have been identified that act as assembly factors for the V-ATPase and I am interested in determining how these factors interact with each other and with the V-ATPase to produce a functionally assembled protein. In addition, I am interested in determining what factors are necessary for targeting the V-ATPase to different cellular locations. The V-ATPase is normally found in the membranes of lysosomes, the Golgi Apparatus and vesicles. However, in certain cell types including kidney cells, neurons, and cancer cells, the V-ATPase is found in different cellular locations, including the plasma membrane, and this has functional significance for each type of cell. I am interested in identifying the proteins that interact with V-ATpases to determine their cellular localization.

Publications

Hinton A, Sennoune SR, Bond S, Fang M, Reuveni M, Sahagian GG, Jay D, Martinez-Zaguilan R, Forgac M. . 2009. Function of a subunit isoforms of the V-ATPase in pH homeostasis and in vitro invasion of MB231 cells.. J Biol Chem. v. 284 no. 24 p. 16400-8

Hinton A, Bond S, and Forgac M.. 2009. V-ATPase functions in normal and disease processes.. Pflugers Arch Eur J Physiol.. v. 457 no. 3 p. 589-98

Cipriano DJ, Wang Y, Bond S, Hinton A, Jefferies K, and Forgac M.. 2008. Structure and regulation of the vacuolar ATPases.. Biochem Biohpys Acta.. v. 1777 no. 7-8 p. 599-604

Hinton A, Zuiderweg E.R.P, and Ackerman S.H.. 2003. A Purified Subfragment of Yeast Atp11p Retains Full Molecular Chaperone Activity. . J Biol Chem.. v. 278 no. 36 p. 34110-34113

Hinton A, Gatti D.L., and Ackerman S.H. . 2004. The Molecular Chaperone, Atp12p, from Homo Sapiens: In Vitro Studies with Purified Wild Type and Mutant (E240K) Proteins.. J Biol Chem.. v. 279 no. 10 p. 9016-9022

Presentations

Hinton A. 2009. Role of V-ATPases in Tumor Cell Invasiveness. Colgate University. Hamilton, NY

Hinton A. 2008. Role of V-ATPase subunit a isoforms in Tumor Cell Invasion. Tufts University. Boston, MA

Hinton A, Sennoune S, Bond S, Martinez-Zaguilan R, and Forgac M . 2009. of V-ATPase a Subunit Isoforms in pH Homeostasis and In Vitro Invasion of Human Breast Cancer Cells. Gordon Conference Session on Molecular and Cellular Bioenergetics. Andover, NH

Hinton A, Bond S, and Forgac M. 2008. Role of V-ATPase a Subunit Isoforms in In Vitro Invasion of Human Breast Cancer Cells. IRACDA Conference. Chapel Hill, NC

Hinton A, Gatti D, and Ackerman S. 2003. In vitro studies with the molecular chaperones, Atp11p and Atp12p. Gordon Conference Session on Molecular and Cellular Bioenergetics. Meriden, NH

Fellowships

Training in Education and Critical Research Skills Fellowship, 2007 – 2010

National Research Service Award Minority Fellowship, 2001 – 2004

Initiative for Minority Student Development Fellowship, 1999 – 2001