Joseph Zaia

Professor
Associate Director, Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry

Boston University School of Medicine
670 Albany Street, Office: Rm. 509; Lab: Suite 505
Boston, MA 02118

Phone: 617-638-6762
Lab Phone: 617-638-6762
Fax: 617-638-6761

Email: jzaia@bu.edu

For more information click here Joseph Zaia

Education

BS, Bates College, Lewiston, ME
PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

People

Nancy Leymarie Senior Research Scientist	Lilla Turiak Postdoctoral Associate	Yang Mao Postdoctoral Associate
Le Meng Postdoctoral Associate	Chun Shao Student	Kshitij Khatri Student
Han Hu Student	Yu Huang Student

Research Interests

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are linear oligosaccharides attached to proteoglycan core proteins in virtually every animal species and tissue.  A large number of proteins bind GAGs including those involved in blood clotting, many growth factors, and several extracellular matrix proteins.  Mutation in GAG biosynthetic genes leads to severe malformations, indicating the critical roles these carbohydrates play in development.  Much of proteoglycan biological activity is mediated though protein-binding interactions.

The group develops new bioanalytical methods to meet the emerging needs of biomedicine related to GAG function and is building a structural understanding of the roles of GAG during development, adult physiological processes and disease states.  Dynamic regulation of GAG expression serves as a mechanism to elaborate the functions of the relatively limited number of proteoglycan gene products.  This gives rise to the elaborate signaling feedback mechanisms required for higher animal physiological processes.   The group aims to develop a mechanistic understanding of the roles of GAG expression related to human health.

Specific projects include investigations into

(1) heparan sulfate-growth factor interactions;

(2) heparan sulfate phenotypes in vascular disease processes;

(3) post-biosynthetic enzymatic and chemical modification to heparan sulfate structure and function;

(4) use of tandem mass spectrometry for structural analysis of GAGs.  These projects focus on development and use of cutting edge mass spectrometric technology.

Research Themes

ECM/Cellular Injury; Proteomics & Glycomics

Representative Publications

Pubmed