Sarfaraz Ahmad
Research Fellow
Education: BS (1989), Chemistry; MS (1991) Biochemistry;
PhD (1997), Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, India.
Laboratory Department: Hypertension and Vascular Research Center
Email: sahmad@wfubmc.edu
Advisor: Dr. Carlos M. Ferrario
Current Research:
My research work is part of program project grant entitled, “Angiotensin-(1-12): Novel pathways for angiotensin peptide formation”. The newly described dodecapeptide angiotensin-(1-12) [Ang-(1-12)], isolated from rat tissues, has been found to generate Ang II and Ang-(1-7) by non-renin enzyme and be selectively expressed in large quantities in cardiac myocytes of spontaneously hypertensive rats. The major goal of my research project is to identify the mechanisms regulating the expression and function of Ang-(1-12) in the heart of both normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and hypertensive rats (SHR), to explore the intracellular and extracellular pathways by which the substrate is cleaved from angiotensinogen (Aogen), and assess whether Ang-(1-12) is an alternate or obligatory intermediate peptide for the intracellular action of Ang II and Ang-(1-7). These objectives will be achieved by a combination of histochemical, molecular, cellular and physiological experiments using in vivo and in vitro approaches.
List of selected peer-reviewed publications (Total 21 papers):
Kushman ME, Kabler SL, Ahmad S, Doehmer J, Morrow CS and Townsend AJ. Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and (+/-)-dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-11,12-dihydrodiol in V79MZ cells co-expressing either hCYP1A1 or hCYP1B1 together with human glutathione-S-transferase A1. Mutation Research, 2007, 624, 80-87.
Zalups RK and Ahmad S. Handling of cysteine S-conjugates of methylmercury in MDCK cells expressing human OAT1. Kidney International, 2005, 68, 1684-99.
Zalups RK and Ahmad S. Handling of the homocysteine S-conjugate of methylmercury by renal epithelial cells: role of organic anion transporter 1 and amino acid transporters. J Pharmacol Exp Therap., 2005, 315, 896-904.
Zalups RK and Ahmad S. Homocysteine and the renal epithelial transport and toxicity of inorganic mercury: Role of basolateral transporter OAT1. J of American Society of Nephrology, 2004, 15, 2023-2031.
Ahmad S, Kitchin KT and Cullen WR. Plasmid DNA damage by methylated arsenic, ascorbic acid and human liver ferritin. Toxicology Letters, 2002, 133, 47-57.
Ahmad S, Kitchin KT and Cullen WR. Arsenic species that cause release of iron from ferritin and generation of activated oxygen. Archive of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2002, 382, 195-202.
List of selected abstracts and oral presentations (Total 23 abstracts):
Ahmad S, Leone-Kabler S, Doehmer J, and Townsend AJ. 5-Methylchrysene effects on mutagenicity in binary mixture with a potent metabolite or BaP: Antagonism in cells expressing hCYP1B1, but additivity in cells expressing hCYP1A1. 25th Annual Fall Meeting of Genotoxicity and Environmental Mutagen Society, Chapel Hill, NC, USA (2007).
Ahmad S, Leone-Kabler S, Rudd L, Doehmer J and Townsend AJ. Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of 5-methylchrysene in V79MZ cells stably transfected with human CYP1B1 or CYP1A1 and/or GSTpi. 97th Annual Meeting of American Association for Cancer Res., Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC (2006).
Ahmad S, Leone-Kabler S, Rudd L, and Townsend AJ. Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of 5-methylchrysene and its diol in V79MZ cells stably transfected with CYP1B1 and/or GSTpi-26. Genotoxicity and Environmental Mutagen Society Fall Meeting, Friday Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA (2005).
Ahmad S, and Zalups RK. OAT1 transports N-acetylcystein (NAC) conjugates of both methylmercury and inorganic mercury in MDCK cells. 44th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, New Orleans, USA (2005).
Ahmad S, and Zalups RK. Uptake of biologically relevant form(s) of inorganic mercury by human organic anion transporter 1 (hOAT1). 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, Baltimore, USA (2004).
Honors and Awards:
Research Associateship award by National Research Council, Washington DC at the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Research Triangle Park, NC (1998 – 2001).
Best poster award at Genotoxicity and Environmental Mutagen Society Fall Meeting, Chapel Hill, NC (2005).
Membership:
2005 – present: Editorial Board Member of Toxicology Letters.