Dennis, Edward
Biochemistry: phospholipase A2, signal transduction in macrophages, lipid maps, prostaglandin regulation, mass spec of lipids and proteins.
Biochemistry: phospholipase A2, signal transduction in macrophages, lipid maps, prostaglandin regulation, mass spec of lipids and proteins.
Contact Information
Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology
Chancellor I Chair in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Office: BSB 4076
Phone: 858-534-3055
Email: edennis@ucsd.edu
Web: cobra.ucsd.edu
Group: View group members
Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology
Chancellor I Chair in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Office: BSB 4076
Phone: 858-534-3055
Email: edennis@ucsd.edu
Web: cobra.ucsd.edu
Group: View group members
Education
1968 Ph.D., Harvard University
1965 M.A., Harvard University
1963 B.A., Yale University
1968 Ph.D., Harvard University
1965 M.A., Harvard University
1963 B.A., Yale University
Appointments
2019-Present Chancellor I Distinguished Professorship, Depts. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Pharmacology, UC San Diego
2017-2019 Chair, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC San Diego
2004-Present Distinguished Professor, Depts. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Pharmacology, UC San Diego
2003-2004 Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology, UC San Diego
1999-Present Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute
1999-2002 Chair, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC San Diego
1981-2004 Professor, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC San Diego
1975-1981 Associate Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, UC San Diego
1970-1975 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, UC San Diego
1967-1969 Postdoc, Dept. of Biological Chemistry, Harvard Medical School
1963-1967 Predoc, Dept. of Chemistry, Harvard University
2019-Present Chancellor I Distinguished Professorship, Depts. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Pharmacology, UC San Diego
2017-2019 Chair, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC San Diego
2004-Present Distinguished Professor, Depts. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Pharmacology, UC San Diego
2003-2004 Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology, UC San Diego
1999-Present Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute
1999-2002 Chair, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC San Diego
1981-2004 Professor, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC San Diego
1975-1981 Associate Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, UC San Diego
1970-1975 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, UC San Diego
1967-1969 Postdoc, Dept. of Biological Chemistry, Harvard Medical School
1963-1967 Predoc, Dept. of Chemistry, Harvard University
Awards and Academic Honors
2020
Bert Vallee Award in Biomedical Science from the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2019
David Sigman Memorial Lecture, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA
2017
Special Award Lecture in Neuroscience and Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences
2016
American Chemical Society, San Diego Section, Distinguished Scientist Award
2014
Honorary Doctorate, University of Lyon, INSA-Lyon (France)
2013
Otto Loewi Memorial Lecturer, University of Graz
2013
Chancellor Award Lecture in Neuroscience and Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences
2008
Yale Medal, Yale University
2008
Honorary Doctorate, Goethe University of Frankfurt (Germany)
2007
European Federation for the Science and Technology of Lipids "European Lipid Science Award”
2004
Yale Science and Engineering Association Meritorious Service to Yale Award
2004
Dean’s Award Lecture in Neuroscience/Distinguished Lectureship, Louisiana State University
2003-2018
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Lipid Research
2003-2014
Director, LIPID MAPS (NIH Glue Grant Consortium)
2000
American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Avanti Award
1983-1984
Guggenheim Fellow
Research Interests
The Dennis group has studied the structure and function of phospholipases for about three decades. We have extensively characterized the cobra venom phospholipase A2 and from these studies have developed a model for the action of soluble enzymes at phospholipid surfaces. These studies have been extended to numerous other phospholipases. We have also explored the role that these enzymes play in various cell function in macrophages, amniotic WISH cells, and in neural tissues.
Since phospholipase A2 liberates arachidonic acid, it occupies an important position in the eicosanoid cascade and is partially responsible for the regulation of prostaglandin production. The regulation of the production of these compounds has been shown to be important in inflammation, the onset of premature labor, and the etiology of various neural degenerative diseases.
Thus understanding how phospholipase A2 functions and how to control its activity, offer important avenues for developing potent pharmacological agents for controlling numerous diseases.
Since phospholipase A2 liberates arachidonic acid, it occupies an important position in the eicosanoid cascade and is partially responsible for the regulation of prostaglandin production. The regulation of the production of these compounds has been shown to be important in inflammation, the onset of premature labor, and the etiology of various neural degenerative diseases.
Thus understanding how phospholipase A2 functions and how to control its activity, offer important avenues for developing potent pharmacological agents for controlling numerous diseases.
Primary Research Area
Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Interdisciplinary interests
Cellular Biochemistry
Selected Publications
- Dedaki C, Kokotou MG, Mouchlis VD, Limnios D, Lei X, Mu CT, Ramanadham S, Magrioti V, Dennis EA, Kokotos G "β-Lactones: A Novel Class of Ca2+-Independent Phospholipase A2 (Group VIA iPLA2) Inhibitors with the Ability To Inhibit β-Cell Apoptosis.", J Med Chem, 2019, Vol. 62, Issue 6, 2916-2927 [View]
- Watrous JD, Niiranen TJ, Lagerborg KA, Henglin M, Xu YJ, Rong J, Sharma S, Vasan RS, Larson MG, Armando A, Mora S, Quehenberger O, Dennis EA, Cheng S, Jain M "Directed Non-targeted Mass Spectrometry and Chemical Networking for Discovery of Eicosanoids and Related Oxylipins", Cell Chem Biol, 2019, Vol. 26, Issue 3, 433-442.e4 [View]
- Mouchlis VD, Chen Y, McCammon JA, Dennis EA "Membrane Allostery and Unique Hydrophobic Sites Promote Enzyme Substrate Specificity.", J Am Chem Soc, 2018, Vol. 140, Issue 9, 3285-3291 [View]
- Navratil AR, Shchepinov MS, Dennis EA "Lipidomics Reveals Dramatic Physiological Kinetic Isotope Effects during the Enzymatic Oxygenation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Ex Vivo.", J Am Chem Soc, 2018, Vol. 140, Issue 1, 235-243 [View]
- Quehenberger O, Dahlberg-Wright S, Jiang J, Armando AM, Dennis EA "Quantitative determination of esterified eicosanoids and related oxygenated metabolites after base hydrolysis", J Lipid Res, 2018, [View]
- Dennis EA "Liberating Chiral Lipid Mediators, Inflammatory Enzymes, and LIPID MAPS from Biological Grease.", J Biol Chem, 2016, Vol. 291, Issue 47, 24431-24448 [View]
- Gupta S, Kihara Y, Maurya MR, Norris PC, Dennis EA, Subramaniam S "Computational Modeling of Competitive Metabolism between ω3- and ω6-Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Inflammatory Macrophages.", J Phys Chem B, 2016, Vol. 120, Issue 33, 8346-53 [View]
- Mouchlis VD, Limnios D, Kokotou MG, Barbayianni E, Kokotos G, McCammon JA, Dennis EA "Development of Potent and Selective Inhibitors for Group VIA Calcium-Independent Phospholipase A2 Guided by Molecular Dynamics and Structure-Activity Relationships.", J Med Chem, 2016, Vol. 59, Issue 9, 4403-14 [View]
- Dennis EA, Norris PC "Eicosanoid storm in infection and inflammation.", Nat Rev Immunol, 2015, Vol. 15, Issue 8, 511-23 [View]
- Mouchlis VD, Bucher D, McCammon JA, Dennis EA "Membranes serve as allosteric activators of phospholipase A2, enabling it to extract, bind, and hydrolyze phospholipid substrates.", Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2015, Vol. 112, Issue 6, E516-25 [View]
- Norris PC, Gosselin D, Reichart D, Glass CK, Dennis EA "Phospholipase A2 regulates eicosanoid class switching during inflammasome activation.", Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2014, Vol. 111, Issue 35, 12746-51 [View]