Graduate Student
Molecular Biology Institute
Email: jbekker@ucla.edu

Principle Research Interests

The human Growth Arrest Specific 11 protein (Gas11) is homologous to a novel family of cytoskeletal proteins that are instrumental in microtubule-based cellular locomotion. I am using molecular, cellular, and biochemical approaches to characterize the function of Gas11 in mammalian muscle.

Education & Experience
B.S.	Biology, University of California San Diego
Research Associate	University of California San Francisco, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology	1996-1997
Research Associate	University of California San Francisco Department of Pediatrics and the Cardiovascular Research Institute	1997-2000

Selected Publications:

Tworetzky W, Moore P, Bekker JM, Bristow JD, Black SM, Fineman JR. (2000) “Pulmonary blood flow mediates nitric oxide production in patients undergoing device closure of atrial septal defects.” Journal Am College Cardiology, 35:463-467.

Wedgwood S, McMullan DM, Bekker JM, Fineman JF, Black SM. (2001) “Role for endothelin-1 induced superoxide and peroxynitrite production in rebound pulmonary hypertension associated with inhaled nitric oxide therapy.” Circulation Research, 89(4):357-64

Yi CE, Bekker JM, Miller G, Hill KL, Crosbie RH. (2003) “Specific and potent RNA interference in terminally differentiated myotubes.” J Biological Chemistry, 278 (2): 934-9

Black SM, Bekker JM, Ovadia B, Reinhartz O, Meta-Greenwood EM, Thelitz S, Gerrets R, Hendricks-Munoz K, Fineman JR. (2003) “Emergence of smooth muscle cell endothelin B-mediated vasoconstriction in lambs with experimental congenital heart disease and increased pulmonary blood flow.” Circulation, 108:1646-1654

Thelitz S, Oishi P, Sanchez LS, Bekker JM, Ovadia B, Johengen MJ, Black SM, Fineman JR. (2004) “Phosphodiesterase-3 inhibition prevents the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance following inhaled nitric oxide withdrawal in lambs.” Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 5 (3): 234-239.

Thelitz S, Bekker JM, Ovadia B, Stuart RB, Johengen MJ Black SM, Fineman JR. (2004) “Inhaled nitric oxide decreases pulmonary soluble guanylate cylase protein levels in 1-month-old lambs.” J Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery, 127 (5):1285-1292.