Dr. Victor Fomin

Research Assistant Professor

Contact

Fomin

Office: 206 Wolf Hall
Lab: 350 Wolf Hall

Mailing address:
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Wolf Hall
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716

Phone: (302) 831-6094
Fax: (302) 831-2281
E-mail: vfomin@udel.edu

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Education

B.S.: Kiev State University, Ukraine
Ph.D.: A.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, Ukraine
Postdoctoral: University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center

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Research Interests

Membrane biochemistry and biophysics; signal transduction; mechanisms of smooth muscle contractility and cellular calcium homeostasis. Specific areas of research include the study of protein kinase C (PKC) and intracellular Ca in regulation of uterine smooth muscle (myometrium) contraction. The role of individual PKC isoforms in modulation of uterine contraction during normal pregnancy as well as during premature labor is of particular interest to Dr. Fomin.

Dr. Fomin's present research is focused on the understanding of the function of Ca-dependent PKC isoforms α and β in intracellular Ca and contraction of the myometrium. We are seeking to elucidate PKC α and β signaling pathways in changing phosphorylation of myosin light chain and, hence, the uterine contraction. This project includes the use of myometrial strips and immortalized uterine smooth muscle cell line as experimental models, and the use of antisense oligonucleotides, siRNAs and dominant negative cDNAs to target these individual PKC isozymes.

Together with Dr. Randall Duncan, Dr. Fomin is working on the problem of mechanotransduction in bone cells. Specific area of research includes the role of PKC and intracellular Ca in modulating bone-building cells osteoblasts response to different forms of mechanical load such as shear stress and hypotonic swelling. The involvement of PKC isozymes in mediating effect of mechanical load on prostaglandin production and stimulation of bone growth is the focus of this project.

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Current Projects

• NIH R55 HD45802 to Dr. Victor Fomin, The Role of Protein Kinase C Isoforms in Regulation of the Contraction in Human Uterus.
• NIH, The Role of Protein Kinase C (PKC) in Mechanotransduction in Osteoblasts (in preparation).

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Teaching

• BISC 276* - Human Physiology

*Course web site available through MyCourses

Research Group

• Andris Kronbergs, M.S. - Research Associate I (M.S., University of Cincinnati). Study of PKC isoforms in[Ca²⁺]_I / Force Relationship in Uterine Contraction.

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Selected Publications

Fomin VP, Gibbs SG, Vanam R, Morimiya A, Hurd WW. The Effect of Magnesium Sulfate on Contractile Force and Intracellular Calcium Concentration in Pregnant Human Myometrium. 2005 (in press).

Bermeo ME, Fomin VP, Ventolini G, Gibbs SG, McKenna DS and Hurd WW. Magnesium Sulfate Induces Translocation of Protein Kinase C Isoenzymes Alpha and Delta in Myometrial Cells from Pregnant Women. Am J Obstet and Gynecol, 2003, 190(2):522-7.

Usatyuk PV, Fomin VP, Shi S, Garcia JGN, Schaphorst K, and Natarajan V. Role of Ca²⁺ in diperoxovanadate-induced cytoskeletal remodeling and endothelial cell barrier function. Am J Physiol, 2003, 285:L100-L1017.

Hurd WW, Fomin VP, Natarajan V, Fischer JR, Singh DM, Gibbs SG. Magnesium sulfate inhibits oxytocin-induced production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in cultured human myometrial cells. Amer J Obstetrics and Gynecol, 2002, 187:419-424.

Hurd WW, Fomin VP, Natarajan V, Singh DM, Brown HL and Bigsby RM. Expression of protein kinase C isoenzymes in pregnant human myometrial tissue and primary myometrial cultures. Amer J Obstetrics and Gynecol, 2000, 183:1525-31.

Fomin VP, Singh DM, Brown HL, Natarajan V and Hurd WW. Effect of cocaine on intracellular calcium regulation in myometrium from pregnant women. J of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, 1999, 6:147-52.

Fomin VP, Cox BE and Word RA. Effect of progesterone on intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis in human myometrial smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol, 1999, 276(45):C379-C385.

Hurd WW, Betz AL, Dombrowski MP and Fomin VP. Cocaine Augments Contractility of the Pregnant Human Uterus by Both Adrenergic and Non-adrenergic Mechanisms. Amer J Obstet Gynecol, 1998, 178:1077-81.

Grover AK, Samson SE, Fomin VP, and Werstiuk ES. Effects of peroxide and superoxide on coronary artery: angiotensin II response and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ pump. Am J Physiol, 1995, 269(38):C546-C553.

Kosterin SA, Burdyga ThV, Fomin VP, and Grover AK. Mechanisms of Ca²⁺ transport in myometrium. In: Control of Uterine Contractility, ed. by RE Garfield, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1994, p.129-159.

Grover AK, Fomin VP, and Samson SE. Angiotensin II contractions in coronary artery: nature of receptors and calcium pools. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 1994, 135:11-19.

Khan I, Tabb T, Garfield RE, Jones LW, Fomin VP, Samson SE, and Grover AK. Expression of the internal calcium pump in pregnant rat uterus. Cell Calcium, 1993, 14:111-117.

Grover AK, Samson SE, and Fomin VP. Peroxide inactivates calcium pumps in pig coronary artery. Am J Physiol, 1992, 263(32):H537-H543.

Fomin VP, Shinlova OP, Burdyga ThV, and Kosterin SA. Effects of sodium gradient on the cytosolic free Ca²⁺ and contractility of the rat pregnant myometrium smooth muscle. General Physiology and Biophysics, 1991, 10:217-221.

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